Golden State Warriors: Steve Kerr should consider radical lineup shift in star’s absence

The Golden State Warriors provided an update on veteran forward Draymond Green on Tuesday, confirming the 33-year-old will miss the team’s final two preseason games against the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.

It puts further doubt on Green’s availability for opening night against the Phoenix Suns next Tuesday. At the very least, the four-time All-Star will be on a heavy minutes restriction throughout the opening period of the season.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr should consider a major and controversial lineup shift in Draymond Green’s absence.

Green’s injury has pushed back the timeline regarding Golden State’s starting lineup, allowing Chris Paul to start alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.

That lineup is highly favorable to start on opening night, but there’s a real discussion to be had on whether head coach Steve Kerr should take an alternative approach. Third-year forward Jonathan Kuminga has been the brightest element of the Warriors’ preseason to date, with the 21-year-old leading the league in scoring at 26 per game.

Kuminga is viewed by many as the long-term replacement for Green at power-forward, yet his early form suggests that timeline should be accelerated. Either way, he’s certainly a more natural replacement for Green than Paul is, even if you lose some playmaking and veteran experience.

For Kuminga, it would be a reward for his efforts over the offseason and his performances across training camp and in the preseason. For Paul, it would allow him to acclimatize to a sixth-man role rather than presumedly adjust when Green returns to the starting lineup.

For the team, in the threat of being hyperbolic, it could be a championship-winning move. Most believe the Warriors, in their current state, are just below the top rung of contenders. Kuminga presents their best opportunity at closing that gap, and you could argue his ascension to a 25-30+ minute player is the most pivotal aspect to Golden State’s chances.

Going with a Curry-Thompson-Wiggins-Kuminga-Looney lineup on opening night would require an earlier look over the final two preseason games. If it holds even an element of consideration in Kerr’s mind, then it should be trialled against the Kings on Wednesday night.

The conservative option will likely remain with Paul in the starting lineup, but the Kuminga option has to be a tantalizing one that could completely re-shape how the Warriors are viewed across the league.