The Golden State Warriors ditched the two-timeline plan this summer. They traded Jordan Poole for Chris Paul, re-signed Draymond Green, and ditched multiple young pieces for veterans. The Dubs want to win another title with their current core, and the league is wide open. Does that mean ditching more young talent like Jonathan Kuminga to go all-in?
Draymond could be the key to a fifth championship in ten years. He is currently beefing with Poole, and the Warriors must get their defensive anchor locked in before the start of training camp. Golden State needs a focused Green helping to lead the charge if they are going to make a lengthy postseason run.
The Warriors have just four players on their standard roster that are under 27 years old, and two of them were just drafted in June. Golden State is committed to developing those two, but a recent signing could crack the roster with a strong training camp. What should the Dubs do with their three non-rookie young talents?
2 Players the Golden State Warriors should develop, 1 they shouldn’t
Develop: Lester Quinones
The Warriors just inked Quinones to a two-way contract after a strong summer league where he averaged 21.9 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 30.7 minutes. The undrafted wing keeps improving, and he could quickly become a piece of the standard roster.
Quinones went undrafted in 2022 after three years at the University of Memphis. He signed a two-way contract with the Warriors last summer, but he only played 18 total minutes in Oakland.
Quinones was dominant in the G League where he averaged 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 0.9 steals in 31.6 minutes per game. He won the G League’s Most Improved Player and was named to their All-Rookie squad.
The 22-year-old has plenty of potential, and the Golden State Warriors may be forced to give him some playing time if he remains dominant in the G League. The Dubs have massive spending concerns moving forward with the addition of the second tax apron, and Quinones could be an impactful player on a cheap contract.
The Warriors have two massive decisions to make with the other two young talents on their roster.
Develop: Moses Moody
Moody was the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he has struggled to lock down a consistent nightly role. He improved in year two, but Moody still averaged just 13.0 minutes per game, and his numbers do not leap off the screen.
Every time he was sent to the G League, Moody dominated the competition. They only played the 6’6 wing nine games in Santa Cruz over two seasons because he averaged 27.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 34.0 minutes per game.
The 21-year-old was in the Warriors’ nightly rotation in the playoffs as he averaged 13.4 minutes per game and shot 59.1 percent from 3-point range. He is ready for more playing time, but can he get it?
Golden State is going to play Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Chris Paul significant minutes. There will be a competition for who gets the sixth-most playing time. Moses Moody will battle Kevon Looney and Jonathan Kuminga for that role. Both young talents are behind Klay and Wiggins on the wing. Looney likely starts at the five with CP3 replacing him in the closing lineup. Who will be the first wing off the bench?
The Dubs should develop the winner of that battle and look to move from the loser as they chase a championship in 2024.
Don’t Develop: Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in 2021 and immediately cracked the team’s rotation. The 6’8 wing had a strong rookie season, but he was an afterthought in their playoff rotation. Kuminga took a step forward in year two, including getting more regular season minutes, but his role again diminished in the postseason.
There were Kuminga trade rumors to begin the offseason, but those were put to rest during summer league. He wants more playing time in year three, but can Kuminga earn it?
If the 20-year-old does not win the battle against Moses Moody during training camp, he could quickly become unhappy. The Dubs do not need another distraction as they chase a fifth championship with Curry, Green, and Thompson. Kuminga will struggle to get more than 25 minutes per game even if he does edge Moody in the competition. Is that enough to keep him happy?
The Golden State Warriors should look to move on from Jonathan Kuminga and go all-in on winning another ring. There will be players available near the deadline that can improve their odds, and the Dubs should not hesitate to ship Kuminga to a rebuilding team in the right package.
Will the Dubs win another championship in 2024? Can they make Chris Paul fit into their core? Which young players do they try to develop? Stay tuned to find out.
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The Golden State Warriors have one of the most storied histories in the league. Legends such as Wilt Chamberlain have graced the uniform.