Golden State Warriors team governor Joe Lacob has long been an advocate of young forward Jonathan Kuminga behind the scenes, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania.
Slater and Charania reported Lacob “was a driving force” behind the selection of Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Others within the organization lobbied for Franz Wagner, who went eighth overall to the Orlando Magic and has blossomed into a dynamic scorer.
Lacob was similarly staunch in his desire to keep Kuminga out of trade discussions for Alex Caruso when the experienced guard was on the Chicago Bulls.
Caruso was linked with Golden State around the 2024 trade deadline, but the Bulls’ insistence on including Kuminga in deal was reportedly a dealbreaker.
The ongoing standoff between the Warriors and the 22-year-old seems to be evidence that Lacob, regardless of his personal preferences, is willing to let the front office do its job.
Golden State continues to drive a hard bargain with Kuminga’s representatives. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has increased his best offer to $75.2 million over three years, per Slater and Charania. The third year is a team option, though, so only $48.3 million is fully guaranteed.
There used to be a time when Lacob and the Warriors’ ownership group was willing to spend whatever it took to win a title. For the 2023-24 season, the franchise had an estimated luxury tax bill of almost $176.9 million.
Lacob eventually had to change his tune because he understood the consequences of staying in the second apron of the tax. Klay Thompson, a franchise legend, left as a free agent last summer, and now the Warriors are playing serious hardball with a player who could help chart a course in a post-Stephen Curry future.
Maybe there was a time when Lacob considered Kuminga to be an untouchable cornerstone. That no longer seems to be the case.
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