Dub Hub: Jonathan Kuminga feels 'confident' about his improved three-point shot

09/20/2024 03:00 PM

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, September 20th.

In today's Dub Hub:

• Jonathan Kuminga tells The San Francisco Standard's Tim Kawakami that he is feeling 'confident' in his improved three-point shot.
• Warriors worked out free agents Justin Holiday and Nasser Little, according to The Athletic's Anthony Slater.
• Joel Embiid and the 76ers agree to a three-year, $193 million extension, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The Golden State Warriors are just weeks away from the official start of training camp, and among the many intriguing storylines will be how they'll shape their starting lineup. While Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are locked into two of the starting spots, the other three positions are still up for grabs, with fourth-year wing Jonathan Kuminga positioning himself as a key contender.

The Warriors would love to see Kuminga step in as the starting small forward, offering much-needed athleticism and scoring to the first unit. However, concerns about floor spacing persist, especially with Kuminga's inconsistent three-point shooting alongside Green and another non-shooting big. In response, Kuminga shared with The San Francisco Standard's Tim Kawakamithat he's been working on his shot this offseason and feels "confident" about his improvements.

Via The San Francisco Standard:

"I'm definitely confident," Kuminga said. "And I just can't wait to go out there and show people what I've been working on and stuff. I mean, it's always my thing to just work on certain things and get better. And I feel like shooting 3s, I've gotten so much better shooting."

Last season, Kuminga shot 32.1% from three on 2.2 attempts per game. If he can improve those numbers, he could solidify his spot in the starting lineup and be a huge boost to the Warriors' chances of contending for a title.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, September 20th:

Warriors News:

Jonathan Kuminga's gold-dye summer and enormous plans with the Warriors | The San Francisco Standard

More simply, with Draymond Green locked into the power-forward spot and other candidates ready to get minutes there, Kerr wants Kuminga to be a true small forward.

"I've always been a small forward, my whole life," Kuminga said. "And I don't have a position at this point, because I feel like … when I go back in the summer, I work on everything. Because I'm a small forward, but I could play any position, so I never just define myself as small forward."

So he'll shoot the 3 better this season?

"I'm definitely confident," Kuminga said. "And I just can't wait to go out there and show people what I've been working on and stuff. I mean, it's always my thing to just work on certain things and get better. And I feel like shooting 3s, I've gotten so much better shooting."

What I'm hearing about how the Warriors are filling out their roster amid financial constraints | The Athletic

As has become September tradition, the Golden State Warriors' practice facility is currently filled with high-energy scrimmages on a regular basis, mixing roster guys with younger players and veteran free agents still in search of a camp invite. Justin Holiday and Nassir Little, league sources told The Athletic, are among the several experienced wings who have shuffled through San Francisco in recent weeks.

Warriors have multiple paths to properly celebrating franchise icons | NBC Sports Bay Area

There is another approach that is conceivable if not altogether likely: Draymond Green and Klay Thompson go up with Curry. A trio statue, with the best player in franchise history flanked by longtime teammates who were All-Stars in their own right.

It would be an interesting way to go, as the argument can be made that Curry, Green and Thompson were one of the sport's most accomplished triumvirates – as good as any in the history of the NBA. Though Curry is the true superstar, those six trips to the NBA Finals, yielding four championships, were a product of their alliance, which delivered more than a few moments of magic.

30 Teams in 30 Days: Warriors turn page on 'Splash Brothers' era | NBA

How far can the Warriors go?

Here comes the youth movement in Golden State: Kuminga, Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis all seem prepared for bigger roles. Veterans Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson arrive, too, for rotational spots. The transition is transitioning, you might say, because there is no other choice. This isn't 2018 anymore.

That said, the Warriors don't appear to be legit contenders in a stacked West, which means the Play-In Tournament seems a realistic ceiling.

Warriors' Kyle Anderson celebrates his 31st birthday on Friday

NBA News:

Joel Embiid signs a three-year, $193 million extension with the 76ers, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania

NBA expansion FAQ: Cities, draft, teams and the league's future | ESPN

At these prices, a pair of new expansion teams could net the league north of $10 billion combined — meaning every team would receive a check for over $300 million as the new teams come into the league. That is naturally an enticing proposition and way above what Silver would've expected when he changed his stance on expansion back in 2020.

Depending on when a potential bidding process takes place and variables like the global economy, it's possible forecasting $10 billion for the two teams could even be conservative.

Woj Departure Fallout Includes Stephen A. Smith Leverage | Front Office Sports

Charania may want to tread carefully in negotiations, since ESPN has its own deep roster of NBA insiders and analysts. Start with Brian Windhorst. He's covered LeBron James since high school. "He's criminally underrated," said one source. In fact, sources whisper Wojnarowski's departure could pave the way for Windhorst's ascension, that the feeling in some circles is he's been held back by Woj's outsized presence.

Other talented ESPN hoops scribes include Ramona Shelburne, Marc J. Spears, Tim Bontemps, Zach Lowe, and front office specialist Bobby Marks. So ESPN could take a news-by-committee approach. Did we mention they're all better on TV than Wojnarowski? "That was his Achilles' heel," said another source.

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

6 training camp storylines to watch

The Warriors are still searching for a second star to put alongside Curry, and hope that either Kuminga or Podziemski develops into one, or they can swing a trade for one. But what they lack in star power (aside from Curry), they make up for in extreme depth.

Melton, Anderson, and Hield are all high-level role players, even if they lack star power and potential (in my opinion you can put Moody in that bucket as well). But how will those role player minutes battles shake out? Those four all deserve a lot of minutes, and it's going to be hard to find them alongside Curry, Podziemski, Wiggins, and Kuminga (to make no mention of Gui Santos or Lindy Waters III). As training camp progresses, we'll start to see which players Steve Kerr trusts, and which ones might fall into more back-of-the-bench roles.

A tweet to end the week:

Follow@unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.