The Golden State Warriors’ decision to bring Draymond Green off the bench in favor of Jonathan Kuminga will have its detractors.
Steve Kerr said he’d like to keep Draymond Green coming off the bench in near future. He said they’re trying to “maximize” Jonathan Kuminga and not “wear down” Draymond Green. Plan is to close halves with Green at center. The Andrew Wiggins ankle injury could complicate puzzle.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 7, 2024
For some, Green provides too much in terms of his intangibles, particularly with his basketball IQ and chemistry with Stephen Curry. Those individuals may also point to Green’s playmaking and ball-movement. In fact, the former second-round pick has been the team’s de facto point guard for nearly a decade.
For others, the rationale is more sentimental than tactical. Green hasn’t just been along for the ride in Golden State, he’s helped drive them to this height. After losing Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason, they don’t want even more evidence that the dynasty is ending.
Yet, there are several reasons why the Golden State is right to accept a changing of the guard.
Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga-Draymond Green Swap Is Necessary
In a vacuum, Green is a more seasoned and heady player than Kuminga. He’s also a sharper two-way playmaker, helping the Warriors offense and defense run smoothly. However, Kuminga helps Golden State in a way that Green simply can’t.
Numbers aside, Kuminga is a more pronounced scorer than Green. Indeed, he’s one of Golden State’s three players who are able to create for themselves consistently and in volume, joining Curry and Andrew Wiggins. So, if the Warriors are trying to find ways to score without being so reliant on their two-time MVP, it’s imperative for Kuminga to be a focal point.
Last season, that led to Kuminga averaging 17.2 points per game as a starter, as the Warriors went 27-19. This season, he’s averaging just 15.4 points per game as a starter, primarily due to a clunky start in a first unit that didn’t mesh well. However, he’s been averaging 21.7 points per contest as a starter in December, with Green either coming off the bench or being in street clothes in each of those games.
This includes Kuminga scoring a career-high 33 points against the Houston Rockets earlier this week.
Jonathan Kuminga scores a career-high 33 PTS on 59.1 FG% to lead the @warriors to the win over Houston! pic.twitter.com/YX7D3Y4FzV
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2024
Unfortunately, in that stretch, the Curry-Kuminga duo is 0-2, losing to the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s difficult to place the blame on Kuminga for those losses, as Curry went a combined 14-40 from the field. Furthermore, Wiggins only played 19 minutes against the Timberwolves due to an ankle injury.
Nonetheless, it’s a record that the Warriors will probably key in on, particularly with reports that they’re still looking to land another star.
They Need Another Change
Looking ahead, the Warriors will need a grace period of sorts as they adjust to their reworked starting lineup. At the end of the day, they’ve replaced Thompson and Green with Wiggins and Kuminga. The best way to make everyone comfortable could be to add a low-usage facilitator and three-point threat to the first unit, which is precisely what Brandin Podziemski is.
Still, the floor balance has shifted. The calculus has changed.
Golden State has plenty of specialists on their bench, but their starting lineup no longer causes death with 1,000 threes. They’re more of a ground and pound unit. As a result, the Warriors also need a floor-spacing center to be at their best. Just one that’s a bit more formidable than the 6-foot-6 Green.
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