The Golden State Warriors were being called legitimate contenders for the NBA championship by the late stages of the regular season, but their season ended early with a thud on Wednesday.
They were knocked out of the second round of the playoffs in five games by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have been surging of late. While Stephen Curry's hamstring strain, which he suffered in Game 1, was a big factor, the team does have some work to do this offseason in order to become a true title contender next season.
Young reserve forward Jonathan Kuminga will be a free agent this summer, and veteran Draymond Green chimed in about that contract situation following Game 5.
“Obviously JK has got the contract situation," Green said. "I always wish him the best with that… whether it’s here or elsewhere you just wish him the best.”
Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, had been called by some a disappointment during his first couple of seasons in the league. But he made great strides last season, and in the series versus Minnesota, he showed plenty of promise.
He scored 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting in Game 3, then put up 23 points in Game 4 and 26 points on Wednesday. He gave the Warriors some much-needed scoring punch and explosiveness with Curry unable to play, but it wasn't enough.
Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga.
© David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Curry is 37 years of age and No. 2 star Jimmy Butler is 35, so they will need as much youth and juice as possible in order to seriously go after their fifth NBA title of the Curry era next season. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points in 24.3 minutes a game during the regular season, and he possesses the type of athleticism and ability to finish at the rim that the Warriors need moving forward.
With Butler agreeing to an extension that will pay him $113 million over the next two seasons and Curry due $59.6 million next season and $62.6 million the season after that, giving Kuminga a contract he'd be OK with won't be easy for Golden State.