Dub Hub: Mike Dunleavy Jr. explains why he won’t overreact to Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, October 23rd.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Mike Dunleavy explains why he won’t overreact to Jonathan Kuminga’s unsettled contract situation.
• Steph Curry posts hype video for his 16th NBA season ahead of Wednesday night’s season opener vs. the Blazers.
• Celtics tie regular season record for most made threes in a game during Tuesday’s 132-109 opening night victory over the Knicks.

The deadline for the Golden State Warriors and fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga to reach a contract extension has passed without the two sides coming to an agreement on a deal. In a press conference on Tuesday, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. explained why he doesn’t want to overreact to the news, stating that while they couldn’t come to terms now, there’s hope the two sides can revisit talks next offseason.

Kuminga is expected to play a big role in the starting lineup this season, offering him the perfect chance to prove his value on the team. However, head coach Steve Kerr intends to play Kuminga at small forward alongside starting power forward Draymond Green—a role that will require him to improve his consistency from beyond the arc.

Fortunately, Kuminga showcased his improved shooting during the preseason, posting an impressive 44% from deep on 4.2 attempts per game.

If he can combine this refined shooting touch with his dynamic ability to attack the rim, Kuminga should have no issue making a strong case for the lucrative contract he seeks next offseason.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, October 23rd:

Warriors News:

Dunleavy explains how no Warriors extension impacts Kuminga’s future | NBC Sports Bay Area

Dunleavy doesn’t see Kuminga taking the latter route and instead sees big things ahead for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft.

“That should be his only focus, and that should be the focus whether we got to an extension with him or not.” Dunleavy said. “It’s pretty simple and straightforward to me, His motivation shouldn’t change. Now how he gets there and what he thinks about, and all that, you’d have to ask him about that. But I think it’s set up pretty well for him to have a terrific season, and that’s really the main thing that matters.”

Kerr wrestling with Warriors starting lineup before season opener | NBC Sports Bay Area

“I’d like to have one starting lineup for the whole year, and hopefully the group that I start tomorrow becomes our consistent starting five-man group,” Kerr said. “But it has to lead to wins.”

Brandin Podziemski discusses Draymond Green’s mindset for the upcoming season

Game Preview: Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers – 10/23/24 | NBA

PORTLAND SCOUTING REPORT

The Portland Trail Blazers are in Year 2 of their post Damian Lillard era and have a considerably younger nucleus, led by fourth-year Head Coach and recently inducted NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups. Billups’ team is led by a pair of 20-point scorers — Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons — who were efficient from behind the arc and the foul line last season. Former first-overall pick of the 2018 Draft, center Deandre Ayton, has averaged a double-double in each of the first six seasons of his career. Ayton finished the 2023-24 season on a high note, averaging over 23 points per game over the final two months. The Trail Blazers acquired versatile wing Deni Avdija from Washington to connect their lineup, likely featuring athletic guard Scoot Henderson, the third pick of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Steph Curry is ready for his 16th NBA season

NBA News:

Celtics bury Knicks, tie NBA 3-point record with 29 | ESPN

But instead of a tense, dramatic affair, the only drama on this night at TD Garden, where the Celtics raised their record-setting 18th NBA championship banner to the rafters, was watching Boston spend the final 8:54 of the 132-109 win over New York trying — and, ultimately, failing — to break the NBA record for 3-pointers made in a game.

After Al Horford had Boston’s third straight make to start the fourth quarter with 8:54 remaining — pushing Boston into a tie with the Milwaukee Bucksfor the NBA record with 29 makes in a game — the Celtics missed 13 consecutive attempts, including three air balls and several other ugly misses, in what turned out to be the only thing that didn’t go Boston’s way.

Timberwolves-Lakers: 5 takeaways as LeBron, Bronny James make history | NBA

Aside from Bronny getting burn, the next welcome sight from the Lakers’ standpoint was Anthony Davis making a powerful opening statement.

He was, in a word, dominant: 36 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks. And it mostly came against a 4-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year. In that sense, this was Paris, Redux — Davis played well on the gold medal-winning Team USA, which beat Gobert and France in the final.

Timberwolves and center Rudy Gobert agree to a three-year, $110 million contract extension, per ESPN’s Shams Charania

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

A look at the former Warriors in the NBA

Philadelphia 76ers

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Jeff Dowtin Jr. (two-way)

Lester Quiñones (two-way)

Quiñones, who spent the last two seasons (his only in the NBA) playing for the Warriors, with most of that time on a two-way contract, now gets a chance to crack Philly’s rotation. The Warriors loved Q, but their backcourt was simply way, way, way too crowded. Dowtin was also a two-way player for the Dubs, though he appeared in just four games for them back in the 2021-22 season (in all, Dowtin has played in 46 games for five different teams). And of course, who could forget the Oubre era? He seems to have carved out a nice role in Philly, on a Sixers team that nagged Golden State’s big offseason target, Paul George.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.