The Golden State Warriors couldn't successfully lead Jonathan Kuminga into being an effective and consistent role player for the team over nearly five seasons, and it's a red flag already facing the Los Angeles Lakers before they even sign the young forward.
The Lakers remain a leading suitor for Kuminga who is still unsigned over a month into free agency, but insider Jovan Buha already sees an issue with the role JJ Redick will ask of the 23-year-old if he's to ultimately land in Los Angeles.
Lakers already see Jonathan Kuminga red flag Warriors couldn't fix
Kuminga has always viewed himself as a future star capable of being an elite scorer, yet that was at odds with what Steve Kerr wanted out of him which was far more in line with the role player aspects of defense, rebounding and hustle plays.
Those are the elements that he's also going to be asked to buy into at the Lakers, making for a concerning fit according to Buha if Kuminga doesn't arrive with the right mindset.
"The Lakers need Kuminga to be their Aaron Gordon, their Andrew Wiggins, doing the dirty work. I don't know if he's ready to commit to that role. If he's not playing team basketball, then it's the wrong fit," Buha said.
Is Jonathan Kuminga worth it for the Lakers? pic.twitter.com/DywNDx2jlb
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) August 3, 2026
Kuminga did it for spurts during his Warrior tenure and had periods of two-way impact and winning basketball, including early last season which was highlighted by an opening night performance against the Lakers where he posted 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 6-of-11 shooting in an impressive 119-109 win on the road.
Kuminga could never capture role player mentality with Warriors
Unfortunately these periods only lasted a week or two before Kuminga's impact waned and he was often pulled from the starting lineup and/or the rotation. Kerr's short leash on the former seventh overall pick didn't help matters, yet it was all part of the revolving cycle that was his tumultuous career at the franchise.
Despite a couple of impressive playoff performances, the Hawks clearly weren't sold on Kuminga's winning impact either after declining his team option and letting the high-flyer test the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Kuminga buying into this role with the Lakers would be frustrating for Kerr and the Warriors, but it's absolutely what he needs to do if he wants to become a $25-30+ million player, even if it doesn't eventuate into the All-Star status he initially craved.
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