It’s only 23 games into the Warriors season, and Steve Kerr’s roulette is in full swing. His 12-man rotation theory is getting practical demos, and the game against the Timberwolves was one of them. Before Sunday’s win, the Dubs suffered their 9th loss of the season to the Timberwolves when Jonathan Kuminga was prioritized over Draymond Green. While the veteran graciously accepted the change, the result was largely accepted. So, is he really the answer to the Warriors’ championship puzzle? The latest episode of Fanduel TV’s Run It Back provided one answer.

Discussing Kuminga’s rising stock and contract situation, the hosts put forth compelling arguments. But why is Kuminga on the bench more often than not despite clearly being one of the better players, following Stephen Curry and Green’s core?

Danny Green believed Joe Lacob’s plan for Kuminga was clear. “I thought they were trying to keep him at a cheaper cost, if that makes sense,” the 3-time NBA champion said. “Obviously, he was looking for the max extension. And when you see a guy like that goes to the bench and not play as many minutes, you’re like, alright. They’re trying to devalue?”

After waiting a long time for his contract extension, Kuminga received clarification from the Warriors that they weren’t ready to offer him one yet. Instead, they wanted to focus on grooming him and making him more consistent. But how can that happen if he’s not given more time on the court? On the contrary, the former Mavericks star highlighted why Kuminga wouldn’t fit in their current plan.

Chandler Parsons questions Jonathan Kuminga’s fit for the Warriors’ title chase

There’s no doubt that “Kuminga is a great player,” as even Chandler Parsons admitted. However, the biggest question he raised on the show was, “Is he a number 2 option right now on a contending team?” Replying to his own question the analyst said, “No. Getting rid of him, is that a good move for him? Build his value.”

The 36-year-old further highlighted, “Can get another championship with adding something else other than Kuminga or Wiggins with Draymond and Steph right now? We’ll see how high can his value go. He’s the future piece. I think there’s definitely a lot of potential there, but he’s not the guy right now to be the 2nd option on a contending team. I’ll tell you that. But he is getting better and better every day.”

The Warriors have one ambition this season— to win the championship trophy. However, with their existing roster, it seems like a challenging task. Given the time constraint, the Warriors are seeking an immediate plan to build around Stephen Curry‘s dynasty, as he won’t be around for much longer to chase another championship under head coach Steve Kerr.

There has been chatter that GM Mike Dunleavy is looking for a big move. With LeBron James and Jimmy Butler recently linked to the Dubs, they would likely need to sacrifice some of their young talents to bring in a veteran. One of those talents could very well be Kuminga.

There’s no certainty that the Warriors would agree to part ways with their 2021 draft pick, but one thing is for sure: if they trade Kuminga, the receiving team would benefit. The 22-year-old forward can create depth and with every passing day, he proves that he can rely on his 15-point average per night.