Was it Lacob’s fault that the Warriors didn’t trade Cummings to the Bulls for Caruso?
The Atlanta Hawks are currently awaiting the team’s debut Jonathan Cummingawho arrived from Golden State in a landmark trade involving Kristaps Porzingis. Kuminga is currently recovering from a knee injury that will keep him out activities until at least after the NBA All-Star break, when a medical reevaluation is scheduled.
The move for the Hawks follows a highly publicized period of frustration, which saw the young forward find himself out of the rotation under Steve Kerr and eventually demand a trade to save his career.
As Kuminga focuses on his recovery, his departure marks the end of a long internal battle within the Warriors organization regarding his development and trade value.
That departure from the Warriors organization it brings to light the underlying conflict between coaching and ownership that delayed such a move for years, as detailed in a recent ESPN report.
The report suggests that team owner Joe Lacob has been the primary obstacle in potential trades, including the much-discussed deal for Alec Caruso by 2024, as he wanted to prove himself correct in his original assessment of the draw.
While some within the franchise felt the Caruso deal was a missed opportunity, others suggested the situation was more nuanced.
One source cited by ESPN noted, “Joe is getting too much blame” and characterized the conflict as a “complex situation” involving “a ton of indecision” from several people.
While Kuminga is getting back to health in Atlanta, Caruso has solidified his value as a defensive star for the Oklahoma City Thunder, recently helping them secure a win over the Lakers.
After a brief snub with LeBron James during that game, Caruso joked that they were “going to fight” before clarifying that they were just clearing the air.
Caruso’s elite defense and veteran poise remain the exact traits Golden State was rumored to be targeting, but Lacob’s steadfast belief in Cumming’s upside kept the youngster in San Francisco until the relationship finally reached a breaking point this winter.
2026-02-11 16:22:00
