The Golden State Warriors are charging into the new season with a revamped squad after parting ways with Klay Thompson, one of the Splash Brothers. But don’t get it twisted—they’re not just sitting back. While other teams stayed quiet, the Warriors made major moves. This included adding Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, and De’Anthony Melton, to strengthen their backcourt. On top of that, players like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are in line for max rookie extensions worth around five years and $225 million! The big question is: will the Warriors will step up and lock them in for those huge deals?

“The Warriors have two guys up for extension, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. And to me, Kuminga has the potential to be the spiciest one,” Zach Lowe said on ‘The Lowe Post’ podcast. With his 6’7″ frame and defensive instincts, Kuminga looks like the next Scottie Pippen. His game was a big boost when Andrew Wiggins was out last season. This helped the Warriors secure the sixth seed. But will that be enough for the Warriors to lock him in? Let’s not forget that Steve Kerr wasn’t exactly blown away by Kuminga. This makes this decision a bit trickier.

 “Because last year, there was the Kuminga drama and like, are he and Steve Kerr gonna be okay? Is he gonna make him come off the bench? What’s his role gonna be, that he starts and comes off the bench again,” Lowe added. There were also rumors of a fallout between Kuminga and Kerr, with Kuminga reportedly frustrated after sitting out during the Warriors’ loss to the Nuggets, according to The Athletic.

But the youngster set the record straight, denying any beef. He made it clear they had a sit-down to clear the air, hashing out both basketball and personal stuff. “I think it went really well,” Kuminga said. “It was just all about a better understanding of each other and more communication. Just us having that conversation today made me comfortable and made him more comfortable.” Even though there is no beef, Kerr thinks that there is room for improvement in Kuminga’s game.

Steve Kerr has faith in Jonathan Kuminga, but remains uncertain

“I think what JK is looking at is how can he make himself more versatile to be available in different lineups,” Kerr recently said. “You know, can he be a three? It’s a big question and I don’t know the answer to it.” With Kuminga averaging over 16 points and more than 3 rebounds, he’s already proven he can make big moves, just like Kerr said. It’s no shock that Kerr’s got faith in Kuminga’s potential to level up even more.

However, despite an awesome season last year, it’s still uncertain if Kuminga’s locked in that max rookie contract extension he’s eligible for. With the Warriors shaking things up for the new season, there are no guarantees. We don’t know how Kuminga will mesh with the new lineup, so it’s hard to say what’s next for him.

“Kuminga is the blue chip pick that hit” Lowe said. Jonathan Kuminga, who came over in the trade for D’Angelo Russell, has mad potential. Even if his style doesn’t always mesh with the Warriors’ usual playbook focused on Steph Curry and Steve Kerr, that’s what makes him so valuable.

Kuminga’s raw athleticism and knack for bringing something different to the court give the team a fresh edge that nobody else on the roster can match, according to Zach Lowe. What are your thoughts on him?