While the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are expected to explore sign-and-trade scenarios in the next month or so, there remains a chance that the young forward remains with the franchise on a new contract.
As Anthony Slater of The Athletic pointed on Thursday, CBA rules mean that only 50% of Kuminga's contract counts as outgoing salary in a sign-and-trade. That limits what the Warriors could get back unless they're willing to thrown in additional salaries, and could leave them with an inescapable problem were they to lose Kuminga this summer.
Jonathan Kuminga's departure would leave a big scoring hole
The Golden State offense lacks creation and scoring generation beyond the star veteran duo of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Kuminga is really the only other player currently on the roster capable of generating offense from on-ball opportunity, and is subsequently viewed as the obvious third scorer and perhaps even second above Butler if given a primary role.
The offense predictably struggled in the second-round against the Minnesota Timberwolves once Curry went down injured, but Kuminga was a shining light in the darkness by averaging over 24 points per game on nearly 55% shooting.
If the Warriors were to let Kuminga walk as a restricted free agent or fail to bring back a legitimate scoring threat in a sign-and-trade, then they'd be left without a noted third scorer to prop up what was an average, 16th-ranked offense this season. This would only be made worse by the age and potential health concerns of Curry and Butler, something Slater alluded to in his report.
"Curry (37) and Butler (35) will assuredly be managed throughout the regular season. It’s very possible that Kuminga, by default, would be given a larger share of on-ball scoring opportunities for long stretches and would only earn more with success. The rest of the roster, as currently constructed, has shown its lack of creation punch," Slater wrote.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently mentioned 'support scoring' as the biggest aspect Golden State need to address this offseason, with this element adding an extra layer to Kuminga's situation and what the franchise chooses to do with the former seventh overall pick.
Whether it's Kuminga or an offseason target via trade or free agency, the Warriors must ensure they have another on-ball option that can help lessen the burden on Curry and Butler particularly during a long regular season.