Jonathan Cuminga remains the key (and problem?) for the Warriors

The Warriors and Jonathan Cumminga they looked at each other all summer, down to the winger finally extends for 48.5 million dollars over two years, with the second year as a “team option.”

“Training camp” has just started and this decision confirms the dilemma that the 23-year-old player still poses. As he enters his fifth season in the Bay Area, Steve Kerr still doesn’t trust him with his move-and-read system, and finds that he doesn’t complement Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, two weak shooters. The problem is that the aging Warriors need young players capable of providing a physical impact, and Jonathan Cumminga has the most weapons to achieve that…

Put it forward?

This start to the season ends up summing up the shaky marriage between the player and his franchise pretty well. Great promise when the Congolese is aggressive offensively and active defensively, and a lot of frustration when he isolates himself from teammates and increases turnovers as well as defensive lapses.

And Steve Kerr continues to alternate between the carrot and the stick, with public compliments but also (more private) criticism, as well as relegation to the bench before his knee injury.

“We have to put Steph, Jimmy and Draymond in a position to succeed.”so justifies the coach of Golden State. “That’s what makes you win in this league. Everyone builds around their two or three best players. Asking how can we support them and highlight them?”

And this is a question for Jonathan Cumminga, to which he cannot find the right answer.

“Guess what we can do when he comes off the bench?” asks Draymond Green. “To bring him forward. He needs that. But it takes time. There has been no training. He has a problem with his knee. Let’s get back in shape and we will get there. The season is long. He will help us win a lot of matches.”

Points aren’t everything

For Steve Kerr, this requires Jonathan Cummings to attack the circle avoiding his less than effective mid-range shots at the end of the hour, and positioning himself in the right place in attack. But for Jimmy Butler, his teammate also needs to understand that his performance won’t be judged solely on points.

“He really has to understand that it doesn’t just mean he has to score points. Because I don’t mind stepping back and letting him do his thing. I can stay in ‘Dunker Spot’make screens. I don’t mind. But you know what we should do? » he asks. “Win, dammit.” That’s all. Whatever we want to do is fine with me. But it better lead us to victory. I don’t care about the rest. »

To win, the Warriors know they need the impact of Jonathan Kuminga. Although the club has been looking for the best way to use it for years. In the worst case, he can be traded from January 15. But that would be an admission of failure, not a sure thing the team will be more competitive in the short term.

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.