Gauging Warriors' Costly Decision

The Golden State Warriors front office must regroup after the failure to trade for Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markannen. However, upcoming contract extensions don't allow such a break from the daunting task of managing the luxury tax-laden roster. According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer , Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is seeking a max-level rookie contract extension.

Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. did everything to keep Brandin Podziemski and Kuminga out of trade offers. Ironically, following such a costly decision, such a strategic position could cost him more in the near future. According to Fischer, the contract extension is projected at $224 million for five years.

Of the 2021 NBA Draft class, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner, and Scottie Barnes earned their max-level rookie contract extensions.

Although Kuminga hasn't accomplished much individually, the Warriors forward earned an NBA championship during his rookie season. Besides being on the roster, Kuminga didn't contribute significantly during the Warriors' 2022 championship run.

Furthermore, the advanced metrics see Kuminga as a non-factor player on both sides of the ball. Kuminga finished with a -0.4 box score plus-minus and the same rating for the defensive box plus-minus. Utilizing such metrics doesn't guarantee Kuminga's potential as a star.

However, Kuminga's advanced shooting metrics keep you guessing what caliber of player he could become. The Congo native shot an above-average .598 true shooting and 56 effective field goal percentage. Overall, Kuminga had a solid year shooting the ball and averaged 16 points in 74 games.

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Signing Kuminga to an extension doesn't need to happen, as the 21-year-old wing is a restricted free agency next summer. While waiting for restrictive free agency could cost the Warriors in the long run, perhaps they should see how Kuinga fits with the new-look roster.