The Detroit Pistons’ biggest long-term question mark right now is at power forward, where they have only Tobias Harris, who has just one year left on his deal. The solution could be to make a play for Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State is on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs, and Kuminga is their biggest financial problem moving forward.
With around $140 million tied up in Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green for next season, it will be challenging for the Warriors to keep Kuminga and make other improvements to the roster.
Kuminga will be a restricted free agent, so the Warriors will have the chance to match any offer, but there’s only so deep Golden State can go for a player who only played 24 minutes per game for them this season and has no long-term commitment.
One insider thinks Kuminga has plenty more to show, as he is just 22 years old and may just need more minutes. He’s already a solid two-way player, and Kuminga is not yet close to his prime.
NBA commentator Bill Simmons thinks Kuminga needs a change of scenery and that the Pistons would be the ideal landing spot.
Is he right? And how much would be too much for Jonathan Kuminga?
Detroit Pistons free agency: Jonathan Kuminga
It would likely require a substantial raise for the Pistons to poach Kuminga from the Warriors, as he is one of their only high-upside young players and their top three guys are all at least 35 years old.
But Kuminga hardly seems like a guy they are going to build their future team around, so there is an argument that the Warriors should let him go and invest in more win-now players who better complement their top three.
Losing the 7th pick from the 2021 NBA Draft for nothing would be a tough pill to swallow, especially after all of the trade rumors and drama around Kuminga.
But that is what they are facing if one of the teams with cap space wants to make him an offer that the Warriors can’t or won’t match. That probably starts at around $20 million per season (at least) for Kuminga, which would be a risk for whoever signs that contract, as he has not yet shown that he can contribute consistently.
But he did just score 23 points in a playoff game while playing 30 minutes, so Simmons may be right that Kuminga is just a guy who needs more consistent run to reach his potential.
The Pistons will have a long-term slot open after Harris’ contract expires and Kuminga fits the timeline of their roster. He’s shown he can be at least a 15+ ppg scorer and decent defender, but Detroit would be betting on potential and upside as much as anything.
If Kuminga ever becomes a decent 3-point shooter, he’s got a Ron Artest vibe and could have that kind of impact on both ends. Of course, the Pistons already have a few guys who fit that description in Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II, though Kuminga has already hit 33 percent for his career, and 37 percent in his second season, so the potential is there.
Signing a guy like Kuminga would also make it a challenge to bring back their own free agents, something that would have to be considered.
But if the Pistons are looking for a long-term solution for their only glaring need, then they could do worse than a guy with Kuminga’s potential.