Devastating. The Golden State Warriors have lost Jimmy Butler for the season. The 37-year-old tore his ACL against the Miami Heat, a moment that struck panic for Dub Nation. How do they compete without Butler’s experience and leadership? A player asimilar skillset to Butler’s has ridden the bench for 16 games, and goes by the name of Jonathan Kuminga.
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He requested a trade on January 15, the first day he was eligible. But does Butler’s injury give the athletic forward a chance to showcase his potential to the organization? Head coach Steve Kerr is “absolutely” sure about giving him a chance. If only it were that easy to convince JK.
Shams Charania noted that the relationship between the player and coach is fractured, ‘beyond repair’. That being said, the Warriors are dealing with two alternatives. First is deciding whether Kuminga can naturally replace Butler. If not, their trade demands could completely change.
“Do you try to find a deal out there in the marketplace that can help the Warriors win and compete without Jimmy Butler? That’s a gaping hole for this team. So, two teams that have interest in Jonathan Kuminga: the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings. So do the players say DeMar DeRozan? Does that fit the bill of what the Warriors could need without Jimmy Butler? But one way or another, the Warriors are about to find out where they stand with Jonathan Kuminga this season,” said Charania.
Kuminga has faced a troubling situation after signing an extension. But his work ethic and drive have stayed the same. Draymond Green revealed the explosive forward continues to show up for the Warriors and stays prepared. At the very least, his teammates will be confident that Kuminga can perform despite not being active for the past 16 games.
When he got minutes, that was during the first month of the season, JK showed delightful improvements. He shot 45% from three across six games while posting 17.5 points per game. Whether he’s willing to help the Warriors or not will depend on where that relationship stands. Inside the locker room, the old guards of the team have praised the way he’s handled the situation.
Their presence might impact his decision. And his playing might actually benefit his future.
