How Much Has the Jonathan Kuminga Saga Affected the Warriors Stagnant Offseason?
The second week of September has now passed by, and the Golden State Warriors remain the only team in the NBA with zero offseason moves. The team currently has 10 players under contract, two shy of the regulations minimum. So why hasn’t Golden State signed anyone, not even role players, to fill out their roster during the summer? Could the uncertainty of how to handle the Jonathan Kuminga situation be the fault?
Regardless of the answer, it’s hard to explain why the Warriors haven’t made any signings or trades. Rumors have surrounded possible signees, including former Warriors D’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II. Yet, nothing has become official. While the Warriors have failed in the past to attract free agents, the question doesn’t have to do with the team making a blockbuster trade for a superstar. The question revolves around the struggle, or perhaps the deliberate choice, of not having 12 players with the pre-season just three weeks away.
One can’t help but think that the stalemate between the “Dubs” and Kuminga has something to do with the general lack of moves, at least to an extent. As a front office, it must be difficult not to know where you stand with an asset that still belongs to you. If Kuminga signs, whether it's short or long term, then the team will need to focus on solving its guard shortage issue. However, if Kuminga gets traded, the Warriors could look to improve their depth in exchange for the young star. That would, on the other hand, leave them thin with athletic wing options, a must-have in today’s league as we saw during the NBA Finals.
At the same time, having seen the unwillingness of Kuminga’s camp to compromise, Golden State should’ve considered this situation a possibility. This would help them make roster decisions independently from the ongoing saga. So if they have confidence in stalling out until the last minute, and still assemble a well-producing bench, the Warriors will look like they’ve had it under control the entire way. Yet, if they lack scoring and giving meaningful rest to the starters, the “Dubs” would only have themselves to blame.
It’s hard to believe that the Warriors simply haven’t been able to strike deals with free agents, let alone with familiar faces who are willing to return to Golden State. I believe that the element of surprise with how Kuminga has handled the situation has caught the 2022 Champions off guard. With that said, having built the reputation of a trustworthy front office, I can’t fathom that there is no plan moving forward. The Warriors have done well to not show their hand, but has their quiet offseason left them with too much ground to make up?
