The Golden State Warriors destined Jonathan Kuminga to be their future. For years, the Warriors flirted with him, feeling that the young forward could be a foundational piece for the post-Steph Curry era. However, following his return from injury, questions about Kuminga’s future in the Bay Area have arisen.

During Kuminga’s two-month absence due to an ankle injury, the Warriors adjusted their lineup. Jimmy Butler’s arrival revitalized the team, but it also had unintended consequences for Kuminga’s. The team has altered Kuminga’s role, leading to questions about his new contract, something he might not agree with.

Now, adding another twist to the situation, head coach Steve Kerr recently cleared the air. He said Kuminga won’t be making the starting lineup just yet. However, Butler has taken a different stance. The six-time All-Star has turned out to be Kuminga’s biggest advocate and is pushing the Warriors to extend his contract, standing on his ground that Kuminga will be a key piece of the Warriors’ future.

The Warriors got exactly what they hoped for from Kuminga’s first game back after 68 days. He scored 18 points off the bench in just 20 minutes, and a handful of explosive plays reminded us why the front office adores him. But Kerr’s message was firm. Kuminga won’t be a starter right away. “The operating plan is to win the game, so whatever that takes,” Kerr said. “I won’t put Kuminga in the starting lineup. So, he’ll come off the bench,” he added.

This decision aligns with Golden State’s team-first philosophy, no player is bigger than the collective. The Warriors are 13-2 since Butler’s trade, and messing with the lineup now will destabilize the chemistry they’ve built. But for Kuminga, a 22-year-old who just started to prove himself, it’s a tough pill to swallow.

Butler’s Vote of Confidence and the Warriors’ Dilemma 

Kuminga didn’t have to look too far for support after Butler backed him and aggressively urged that he’s here for the long haul.

“You can’t mess [anything] up whenever everybody wants everybody to be great,” Butler spoke to NBCS as the Warriors came away with a 130-104 win at Chase Center against the Sacramento Kings. “I’m going to come in there and tell him, be you, be you, be you,” he stressed. 

But behind the scenes, Butler has taken it a step further by pushing the Warriors to commit to Kuminga with a contract extension. This is a huge endorsement from someone who carries so much influence over the team. Butler recognizes Kuminga’s value – his defensive versatility, aggressive rim attacks, and additional scoring presence. He understands what the franchise can’t see, the Warriors can’t rely on their veteran core forever.

However, this can cause a rift in the roster as Kerr remains doubtful, and the Warriors are now considering another player. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne implied that the Congolese star might be on his way out and believes that while other teams want Kuminga as their centerpiece, the Warriors are looking at things differently.

Now, let’s talk numbers. Since Kuminga is nearing the end of his rookie contract, this puts him on track for restricted free agency after the season. The 22-year-old has qualified for an extension that could exceed $220 million over five years, and despite his steady improvement and glimpses of star potential, the Warriors aren’t ready to lock him down.

This hesitation is not entirely unexpected, considering Kerr’s unreliable approach to handling Kuminga after he joined the team. Kerr has been hesitant to fully unleash Kuminga in the past, as seen in the 2023 playoffs when he played just 10.2 minutes per game despite strong performances in the regular season. Golden State’s hesitation isn’t just about salary cap concerns either.

While Kuminga has shown flashes of brilliance, his outside shooting remains inconsistent (34% from three), and his defensive awareness (0.5 blocks and 0.9 steals per game) has been questioned at times. The Warriors need to evaluate whether he fits their long-term playstyle before committing to a max extension.

Extending Kuminga would mean investing in his future as a core piece alongside Butler, Curry, and Draymond Green. But doing so could be complicated with Butler’s latest two-year extension worth $121 million, further tightening the franchise’s financial flexibility.

There’s another angle to this fiasco that’s worth going over. Earlier this year, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Warriors were aggressively pushing for a reunion with Kevin Durant. They were ready to send Kuminga, Butler, first-round picks, second-round picks, and swaps over to the Phoenix Suns. But Durant had no intention of a return, shortly after which the Warriors extended Butler.

With all the trouble brewing, Kuminga is focused on the present. There’s growing interest in him from teams like the Miami Heat, who are struggling offensively. They rate him highly as a young star and want to build around him. With Kuminga’s contract negotiations approaching and interest from other teams growing, the Warriors must decide. Invest in his potential as a franchise cornerstone or risk watching him develop into a star elsewhere? The franchise’s next move will define its future beyond the Curry era.