One man’s misery is another man’s opportunity. Jimmy Butler’s nasty fall in Houston could force the Warriors to change their entire strategy going forward. Early diagnosis revealed that he suffered a pelvic contusion, which usually takes anywhere between one and three weeks to recover from, per Dr. John Vasudevan. So, it won’t come as a surprise if Jimmy is unable to suit up for Saturday’s Game 3. And that could be the opening Jonathan Kuminga needed to solidify his future.

Before last night, JK received three straight DNPs as Steve Kerr did not feel he fit the puzzle. Well, Kuminga and Butler play the same position and while the youngster was injured during the regular season, Kerr found the winning formula with Jimmy. As expected, he did not want to mess with it in the playoffs, causing Kuminga to fall out of rotation. However, Jimmy’s unfortunate injury forced Kerr to call Kuminga’s number last night.

Checking into a game after twelve days, JK was clearly rusty, as he shot 4 of 12 from the field and finished with just 11 points. But now that he knows he will be the one replacing the injured Butler, national reporter Marc J. Spears confirmed the young forward’s motivation to put his best foot forward, “He wants to get the bag. That’s his motivation. Gotta let it go, forget feelings at this point.” Yes, Kuminga’s current contract comes to an end this season and he is seeking a lucrative new deal.

Last summer, the Warriors and Kuminga failed to reach an extension agreement as the forward was reportedly seeking $35 million per year while the front office was only willing to offer $30 million. If Kuminga proves his worth in the Rockets series and leads the Warriors to the next round in Jimmy’s absence, Mike Dunleavy might not hesitate in offering him his desired deal. So, Spears made the stakes clear for the forward with a stern message, “He’s gotta shake it off. He’s gotta play. He’s gotta bring some athleticism that the Warriors need in this series. So, hey JK! You wanna play and you want the bag, this is your time.” Obviously, Kuminga will likely only get this opportunity if Butler remains sidelined. So, lets dive into how he is doing.

Veteran insider hints at optimism around Jimmy Butler’s return whereas latest diagnosis says otherwise

After confirming Kuminga’s motivation, Spears quickly shifted focus to Butler’s injury. Revealing a crucial detail, he said, “There is some hope though. Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler’s agent texts me saying ‘Pray for the Bear.’ That tells be there’s some optimism for Jimmy.” Yes, while Dub Nation is still waiting to find out if Butler will play this Saturday, Spears hinted at the possibility of his return based on Lee’s private text.

However, veteran insider Shams Charania’s report tells a different story, “Golden State’s Jimmy Butler has been diagnosed with a deep glute muscle contusion and his status for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets is in serious jeopardy, league sources tell ESPN. This is best case because MRI showed Butler avoided any fracture or structural damage.” Turns out, the initial broader pelvic contusion diagnosis has now been narrowed down to deep glute muscle contusion, and there is a high chance Jimmy misses Game 3.

In either case, Kuminga needs to stay ready, knowing that his number can be called any time. Even Steve Kerr admitted that their plan will depend on Jimmy’s health, “Yeah, we’ll see how it all plays out. I mean, if Jimmy’s out we have to rethink everything like rotations and who starts, and the best combinations and all that stuff.” So, if JK wants that massive extension, this might be his only opportunity to seal it. Do you think he can capitalize?