Curry’s Supporting Cast Is CROWDED | Will Melton Be A Game-Changer For Golden State Warriors?

Curry’s Supporting Cast Is CROWDED | Will Melton Be A Game-Changer For Golden State Warriors?

It feels like three starting lineup spots are locked up for the Golden State Warriors. Who’s getting the final two? Where are the wild cards? And Pajki, Melton, starting shooting guard. Where do we feel about that position moving forward? That’s all on today’s show with Kylin Mills. You are Locked on Warriors, your daily Golden State Warriors podcast. What are they going to say now? Part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. [Applause] What’s the good word everyone? Welcome to Locked On Warriors. We’re part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. This show talks Golden State Warriors basketball Monday through Friday during the season, couple days a week during the offseason, which is just about ready to be finished with the NBA preseason starting beginning in early stages of October. My name is Charlie Walter, formerly a 957 the game in the Bay Area. That’s the flagship of the Warriors. Also cover the team on TV for CBS News Bay Area call letters KPIX. Today’s episode brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use the code locked on NBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Find us on YouTube, wherever you get your audio podcast. Best way to support us. Thumbs up. Thumbs up to Kylin Mills. Welcome to the program today on the show. Talking about the shooting guard position, we we’ll get into Moody’s natural fit. Where do we see him playing moving forward? Lineup combinations. It’s sleepy season right now for the Warriors. It’s been sleepy season for months. We got to wait till October 1st at the latest to get a decision from Jonathan Kaminga. Last we heard entering September, he’s planning on taking the qualifying offer. Nothing’s changed. So, we we’ll see who box first. baseball terminology. Let’s talk some basketball. Kai, how we doing? We’re doing good, Chuck. Aside from the whole sleepy season factor, uh, as I’ve said on past episodes, it’s time to hone in on the players that the Warriors do have. Although, I know that you are going to be throwing one name into the mix, and that’s a Dean Anthony Melton, who is presumed to be uh, addition to the Warriors hopefully sooner than later. So, you know, let’s dive into to the guys they have on this roster, how they can maximize each one of those and potentially make a playoff run. Because look, this team isn’t going to be a disaster. This is still going to be a good basketball team. I think the frustration is that the expectation with this organization is for this to be a championship caliber roster and a team that’s going to take advantage of what is left of the best years of Steph Curry in one of the greatest players and shooters of all time. So, I do think they’re one or two pieces away from being a true championship team, but I still think this is going to be a very competitive season. There’s going to be a lot to cheer about. Uh, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be here before we know it. Yeah. And two 50 million dollar players and Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, plus Draymond Green on the team and some young players that have the capabilities to take some leaps this upcoming season make you feel at least encouraged that the team can be as good as last year. The ceiling question though, a lot of it does have to do with Jonathan Kaminga in terms of, you know, if that’s not working out or if it is working out, but they just want to go a different route, how much can they bring back at the deadline? Otherwise, you’re stuck with what you got if Kaminga takes the qualifying offer. There’s really nothing you can do unless you’re considering some sort of Draymond Green trade or Moses Moody trade, throwing pods as a sweetener, something along those lines. But um one way that they can be a lot better is through the internal development. Moody Pajimsky throwing Kaminga post all these different players and striking gold. Similarly, God I cannot say that word that that word and particularly I mean they just take them out of that partly and particularly I can’t say particularly. Particularly are definitely tough. That was smooth right there. I I just I can’t do it. I can say a lot of words, many words in my vocabulary particularly is that one was actually decent. Anyways, um one way that they can get significantly better is that 2022 season where they had Otto Porter and be elitza and Gary Payton the second and all these players have the best seasons of their career in a case like Otto Porter was never really healthy and then goes to the Warriors has his best year and really hasn’t played much basketball since. Dean Anthony Melton at the age of 27 is talented, is someone that can put some points on the board, can knock down threes, is a Warriors guy, keeps it moving, defends, plays hard. He could be the starting shooting guard of the future. A a term I guess we coined to pods or or you know, the internet and Steve Kerr coined the pods after Klay Thompson left. That wasn’t necessarily the case the entirety of last year. In fact, it was Melton who started early. But Melton’s young enough to where, you know, he could be a shooting guard that lands another deal after this year and is in the Bay Area into his early 30s, whatever it may be. Pods is trying to make his money. There’s a battle right now at that shooting guard position. Who do you feel has the upper leg going into the the season? Pajimky, who is inconsistent in his sophomore campaign, or DA Anthony Melton, who’s always been good, but he’s always been hurt going into the season. Chuck, I think that Brandon Pajki has the upper hand because he was always on the already on the Warriors roster and he’s always been one of the favorites of head coach Steve Kerr. Um, I like Brandon Pajki in terms of what he brings and the value he adds to this roster for what he’s getting paid, but I do think he got a longer leash than some of the other younger players because it’s clear that whatever he’s doing on the floor, Steve Kerr likes what he sees. So, I think that Brandon Pajky coming in is going to be the favorite to start. I think that based on the lineup or the lineups that were the most successful last season, all of them involved, Brandon Pageky, the Warriors most successful lineup, and I know we’re going to talk more about this in a minute, but was Brandon Pajki alongside Moses Moody at the three, Jimmy Butler at the four, small ball obviously with Draymond Green at the five, but they went 16 and three in 19 games played together. uh wide by a wide margin were the most successful uh starting five for the Warriors in terms of the win percentage. So I think that I will be shocked if day one that’s not the starting lineup if all five of those guys are healthy. Do I think that DeAnthony Melton should be in the conversation? Absolutely. Do I think there’s a very viable competition there? Absolutely. Dean Anthony Melton is a good three-point shooter. That’s one thing that I think gets a little bit lost in the shuffle because he has been injured because he is a good defender which is why I like DeAnthony Melton starting. I think he’s a better defender than Pods and that provides major upside for the Warriors because you want a really good defender to be playing alongside Steph Curry who may be a little bit more vulnerable for defenses to try to attack to try to get switches on and that type of thing. So when you have a really good defender alongside him, I just think it shores up the team as a unit defensively uh considerably uh compared to a Brandon Pajki starting next to Steph Curry. Going back though to what I was saying about DeAnthony Melton shooting, I just think that he’s quietly a good three-point shooter. Looking back at his career stats, he’s a career 37% three-point shooter. Chuck, his best season in 2022 23 with the 76ers, he shot 39%. Well, his best season overall, I would say, in terms of playing the most games possible. He competed in 77 games while also putting up some pretty significant numbers. Averaged 10 plus points per game, and then shot the ball 39% on more than five attempts beyond the arc per game. So, 39% three-point shooter on the season, playing in 77 games, averaging more than 10 points per game, taking more than five threes per game. Those are all numbers he loved to see, especially coupled with a guy who’s a good defender. So, I think the defensive upside automatically makes him someone who’s worthy of being in the conversation. And then if he can get that three-point shot to fall the way it has, and all of this hinges on him being healthy, I think that he could be an upgrade from Brandon Pajki in the starting lineup. Yeah, we didn’t get to fully see what his capabilities were last year because a lot of the time, even when he didn’t in How many games did he play for the Warriors? He played in six. I mean, he was technically like 12 games, right? But he was hurt wild, you know, not being out for the season. Then obviously he tears the ACL. So he was injuryprone even when, you know, it wasn’t the season ending injury, but did have a game against Oklahoma City, the the one where the Warriors were up like 30, almost blew it, but won down the stretch. Curry had a huge game. Uh went five of eight from three in that game. And he’s someone that’s not timid to let it fly. You know, he doesn’t need a ton of space. He will let it fly and hit a pretty nice clip. like you said, 37% for his career coming off an ACL injury. He’s probably been in the lab working on that shot quite a bit. You wonder if this is just a bust out DA Anthony Melton three-point season where he uses Steph’s gravity, Buddy Heield’s gravity, and just kind of is that silent sniper, you know, that can knock down 38% on on five, six attempts per game, whatever. And man, he he really fits what the Dubs are trying to do. Pods seemingly fits what they’re trying to do as well. So, uh, that’s going to be an interesting battle to to see who who comes out of camp is the day one starter if Pods is kind of deemed that energy. Pods. I think it’s going to be Pods. And also going back to your point though about the knee injury. I also wonder we thought he was we thought it was going to be Pods to start last year. And I’m pretty sure it was Melton who started night one. But Melton’s now coming off of a really serious season ending knee injury. So, I do think that that needs to be factored in that they may try to ease him back into the season and defining his role as he goes versus like, hey, throw him out there to the Sharks and have him start right away, assuming that Brandon Pajks comes in fully healthy because I think that anyone coming off a knee injury, it takes a little bit of time to learn to trust your body again. So, that’s where I could see especially Brandon Pajki getting the start regardless of of what skill set maybe fits the Dubs best. All right, Moses Moody, his natural fit plus Jonathan Kaminga. What are we expecting from him? Assuming he’s on the Golden State Warriors this upcoming season. Also, Danthony Melton, just in case you were wondering, nothing’s been official. He’s not. We’re talking like, you know, I know Charlie was like, “Let’s talk about Dan Melton.” I was like, “He’s not on the team yet.” He’s like, “Well, he’s all but on the team.” I’m like, “Dude.” So, yes, based on everything we’ve heard, he’s going to be a warrior this upcoming season. They they just need to cross the tees and dot the eyes, wait on some things to be played out. But um unless something drastic changes, the Warriors are entering the season expecting DA Melton to be a part of it. When we come back, we’re talking Moody, we’re talking Kaminga, other lineup conversations and and combinations. That’s next. Ever look at your finances and wonder where all your money went? Most people can’t name all their financial accounts or even what they’re worth. Whether it’s 401ks, properties, investments, and when you don’t have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. That’s why there’s Monarch Money. 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All right, Kylin conversation continues. Moses Moody and his natural fit. Um, I was going through lineup combinations and there there’s so many of them. Like you can look at the the Curry, the Pajimsky, the Moody, and then the Draymond and Jimmy lineup from a season ago and say, “Well, that lineup started what, 12-0, 13-0, 15-0, something. It was nails for most of last season.” Do you pick up where you left off and if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. That helps you by easing in Melton potentially giving Horford some load management to start. Like is that the five you roll with? Or you know the Curry, the Melton, the Moody, the Jimmy, the Draymond. Don’t see that one. Do you switch Moody for Horford and go a bigger lineup of Curry Pods? Horford, Jimmy, Draymond. Maybe Kaminga gets that runway that Kerr said he would have and Draymond heads to the bench like they were talking about last season. Doubt that happens, but there’s lots of options. Not really one that stands out is one that’s 1,000% likely. My question is Moses Moody. Where does he slot in? because defensively he almost seems positionless one through four to where you know you could put on some bigger defenders and at the same time he could pick up Jar half court use those long arms to really make it difficult for the ball handlers where do you see him I guess if you had to have a position for Moody because he’s playing some four he’s playing some two Moses Moody should be at the three there’s no question to me that starting lineup that the Warriors that we were just talking about in the last segment that the Warriors trotted out that went 16 and three. I think there’s a reason why that was the most effective. Moses Moody is a glue guy. He’s a glue guy. He is defensively versatile to where you mentioned if he gets switched, he can handle guys who are a little bit bigger. He can handle guys who are a little bit smaller. I’m not going to go as far as to say he’s an elite defender, but he has that size with a 7 foot wingspan. He has enough length and height to where, like I said, he has some defensive switchability. He’s not so slow that if he gets switched onto a guy who’s a little bit smaller, a little bit quicker. Yes, there are moments where we see guys who are really explosive in the NBA be able to blow by Moses Moody. I still think there’s a little bit to be desired in terms of some of the lateral quickness and on ball defending to where he’s not an elite on ball defender. But again, I just think he’s solid. He’s versatile. He can plug different holes. He’s going to put in a ton of effort. He’s going to make good plays. There are times where I think that he uses his basketball IQ to jump the passing lane or to get his hands on a ball. He’s got pretty good hands. Uh to where I do think you can rely on him to hold it together defensively. Uh and then offensively, you just need him to hit some timely threes. You need him to make the right reads, make the right passes. Where I would like to see Moses Moody grow in his game, is being a little bit more aggressive and decisive offensively. There were times last season, especially when he got out of rhythm or where he got dmpped where I think you saw him come in and be a little bit too passive and play a little bit scared, especially on the offensive end. I would love to see him more consistently really just be confident on the offensive end, whether it be not hesitating to take the three three-point shot. Uh continuing to develop in his ability to drive to the basket to to develop uh you know, continue to develop maybe a mid-range shot, maybe being able to hit off the dribble. I I just feel like there were too many times where we saw him be indecisive. Um I think the three position is is where he’s best fit. I think there’s a reason why that lineup worked for the Warriors. Um does he have to be a starter? No. What I will say is I don’t think there’s any chance we’re going to see the same starting lineup. And this goes for across the NBA, but especially with the Warriors. We’re not going to see the same starting lineup for 82 games. No, it’s not going to happen. The Warriors have way too many players who are 30 plus mid30s to where you’re going to have to be a little bit smart in terms of the usage of and I won’t be surprised if we when we see nights that Steph Curry gets the night off. Okay. Does pods then run the point? Does he then start at the one and then who starts at the two? Is it Dan Melton starting at the two? Do you slide pods over to the two? And like you were kind of talking about, do you go with a bigger lineup in terms of who’s at the 3, four, five? Do you throw in JK at the three? Hell, there’s Buddy. Great. In terms of the three-point shot or Buddy, yes, Buddy Healed obviously is an option. Speaking of, there was a report in Bleacher Report like a month ago. I don’t know if you saw this because we’ve not talked about this on the show that the starting lineup was going to be the lineup that we just listed, but instead of Moses Moody, it was going to be Buddy Healed at the three. Did you see that? Or do you know what I’m talking about? I’m trying to remember the reporter’s name about this upcoming season. Yeah. And there are like multiple reports floating around in the internet like Buddy Heield for some reason could be in the starting lineup at the three. Google it if you’re listening or watching. It is on Bleacher Report. Um I’m worked well. He worked well off Jimmy. He just he worked really well off Jimmy. I agree. But I do not like dude defensively Brandon Pajki, Buddy Healed, Steph Curry. I just think that’s a disaster waiting to happen. He started game seven. Don’t forget when Moody because Moody had the the UCL on his shooting hand after the season on on his wrist. Uh Pajimsky dinged up. Both those guys were hurt late in the season. But you know, if you want to blame it all on shooting, then the game where Moses Moody comes in late and knocks down like seven straight shots and brings the Warriors back and scores like 22 points, then you have to discount that, right? You have to discredit that. So, um, definitely affected both those guys, but I mean, who knows really how long it was going on for. Moody said it was the Milwaukee game earlier in the year, and if that’s the case, he was playing banged up for like a month. I do think he wasn’t 100% this season. To me, that’s not surprising at all. And then we also have to something we have to point out, too, is the fact that Brandon Pajki during the postseason was reportedly dealing with stuff, right? Like, he supposedly wasn’t 100% as well. So yeah, some other things to factor in in how players performed. I think he got two surgeries this off season gently. Was it two? Believe it was back to back. Um okay, hold on. I found this article. It is from Bleacher. Okay. It’s a report from Bleacher Report. Um Zack Buckley of Bleacher Report says that he believes or has reason to believe that the Warriors are going to start Hurry Pajk healed Butler Green. Huh. And yes, uh, Pajinsky did have two surgeries. I honestly I can’t really cosign or or, you know, vouch for Zack Buckley. I’m not super familiar. But, uh, like I said, my concern is just the liability defensively. But, I think that the Warriors have options. I think that’s what you want. I think that we’re going to see lineups change based on who the Warriors are facing as an opponent. There are going to be teams that they face where it’s advantageous to go big and you can afford to be maybe a little bit slower. There’s going to be games where you want to go with a quicker, more guard heavy lineup and you’re okay with being a little bit smaller. There may be games where they want to have buddy buddy healed in to start to stretch the floor, space the floor from the jump for a certain reason. Um, and so that’s what I expect to I think there will be changes throughout the course of the season, but I still like that lineup that went 16 and three if the roster is as it stands. Um, I think the next question that I know we’re going to get into anyway though is is as I think about it is where does Jonathan Kaminga fit into that picture? Because there’s a lot of people who would make an argument that Jonathan Kaminga should be starting on this team. If he starts, where does he start? Do you start Jonathan Kaminga, the three in place of Moses Moody, which we have debated at length and fans have debated at length. Should JK be playing at the three despite the fact that he needs to massively improve his three-point shooting? Um, but with his athleticism, another guy who has has a versatile skill set um and provide some size at that position, could that be a good fit for him or should he be at the four? But if he’s at the four, I mean, this was the whole issue with bringing JK in is the fact that you’re never going to start him over Jimmy Butler. I’m sorry, but that’s never going to happen. So then he has to start at the three. Let’s get into some Kaminga talk that’s coming up. But uh to round things off on Buddy Heel cuz he did get the start in some of the playoffs, game seven specifically where he had the 33 points, 12 of 15 in that game, nine of 11 from three. And uh that was a game where the Warriors held the Rockets to 89 points with healed on the floor for 37 minutes. So he he was doing something right. And clearly he had a weird season where it started off one of Kerr’s favorites and then after just months and months of shooting woes finally Kerr was like all right you know you’re down to 15 minutes per game 12 minutes per game buddy and he really picked it up after the Jimmy Butler acquisition specifically in the playoffs was playing awesome in that Houston series and the 33 in game seven uh crucial. So yeah, I mean there’s a chance now that he he’s played with that lineup for a season and and worked really well off Jimmy Butler that maybe he could slide in and you have a bigger lineup in there with Buddy. And who knows? I mean, there’s a lot of different ways the Warriors can go, but everything we just mentioned did not include one of the Warriors more talented players, Jonathan Kaminga. Where truly is he going to fit into the fold? That’s coming up. First, let’s tell you about Derer. Doer is open and let me tell you what, it is time to go check out your new favorite jeans wear. 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No, I just was saying, please, something happened before October 1st, for the love of God, because the rest of the dominoes cannot fall until the Jonathan Kaminga domino falls. I know. I thought you were trying to chime in and say like I don’t know. This this thing’s been dragging out a long time. Crying into the microphone, that’s all. Yeah. So, October 1st, it’s the latest it can go. You would hope that something is resolved before then, but Kaminga, if he doesn’t get his wish, which is um the player option thrown in there, maybe some more guaranteed money, maybe some length on that contract. The Warriors say nope, two 1 plus one equals two. Um the one year guaranteed, the second year is a team option. waving the trade clause, all these different things that Kaminga doesn’t really like, and there’s a stalemate. And last we’ve heard, he’s taken the qualifying offer. That doesn’t affect this next topic, which is how Kaminga’s season’s going to look if he’s on the Warriors. Because I truly believe it’s media noise to say that a basketball player that’s in a financial year that can make a whole bunch of money is going to be out on playing for a team because he didn’t get his way. and a team knowing that their best opportunity to win is incorporating him somehow some way. Even if it’s, you know, not a starting role, even if it’s DNPs from time to time, they need his services, especially when Steph Curry’s not on the floor. How is his role going to look this upcoming season? Because if he’s on the team, he’s going to play. I truly believe that. H you told me that you’re we were going to talk about this and and it’s a tough one because I do feel like what his role looks like is going to be dependent on what the relationship is between him and Steve Kerr. Like is Steve Kerr going to play him? Is Steve Kerr going to give him the leash that he finally deserves given the situation that to me is very clear that Jonathan Kaminga doesn’t want to be with the Warriors? And it’s also clear the Warriors don’t see a long-term future for him with this team based on the fact that, you know, they don’t want to appease him when it comes to they were not able to come to terms on on an agreement uh for another offer. Uh he wants to be a star on a team now and I think that the Warriors aren’t going to bend and give him that at this point. So, which is why I personally have advocated for like letting letting him go somewhere else because if JKS has been widely reported by multiple outlets this off seasonason believes that he is being held back by being on this Warriors organization, which I don’t disagree with necessarily based on the way and how much and the role that he got and the way and how much he was played that he would maybe advance quicker at a team that isn’t in a situation like the Warriors are in where they are trying to compete for a championship at this point. Uh although I think we both are and everyone’s kind of aware that the roster is still one or two pieces short. This is a team that I mean I think with Steve Kerr at the helm is is not giving a long leash to the young players. And I know a lot of people have put a lot of blame on the coaching staff or the development of some of the young pieces, but it’s been a really fine line to walk where Joe Lake has touted, oh, we’re going to do these two this two timeline thing, this two timeline thing. these young players are going to develop while also trying to chase a championship and maximize our veterans and maximize our championship caliber core and still win a title. And they did it once. They did it in 2022. That’s an amazing feat. Um but that’s something that I don’t I think is really difficult to repeat. Um so I think that there’s plenty of blame to go around for the situation, but I think that if Jonathan Kuminga wants to be a star somewhere, I’ve always been a fan of like let him go then and see if it happens. like it if he thinks he can be an all-star somewhere else, if he just has an unlimited leash and gets all the playing time he wants and maybe gets more attention in terms of his his development, like let him go and do it. So that’s where to me I just don’t think what Are you saying let him go for nothing and just charity? Oh, no. No. And that’s where I just there is some Are you saying definitely frustration surrounding surrounding the situation and at this point? Yeah. I mean, at this point, there’s definitely some frustration surrounding why they were not able to execute some type of sign and trade deal. I know that the salary cap is an issue. Could they have held on to him and then tried to do something uh, you know, before the trade deadline? I mean, the monetary the financial side of it sucks. Like, I get it. I’m just saying that I don’t think what Jonathan Kaminga wants right now matches the role that this staff and front office sees for him right now. So, while I think a lot of people could make the argument that Jonathan Kaminga should be and would be a starter who would play 30 plus minutes a night in other organizations and that’s what he wants and he wants to be not a third, fourth, fifth option. He wants to be like the number one or two option on a team. That’s just not going to happen. Uh, is he willing to accept a role though that’s not that? So, why is the trade clause uh not the trade clause but the player option a sticking point? he wants to kind of control where he goes next. But any team that brings in Kaminga, I’d argue out of all the teams that would be interested in Kaminga, the Kings probably have the least to offer short term because he’s dealing with and granted they could trade D Rozan, but that’s going to be difficult um to some degree. Um maybe I mean D Rozan at 25 million, whatever he is, it may not be that hard to get off of, but you still got Lavine, you have Sabonis, you have Malik Monk. You would have to get off of him. like there there’s a lot of players on that team where you kind of run into the same issue as he would have on the Warriors to where I mean I guess the issue with the Warriors is he’s not getting in the basketball game. Like that’s the big issue he has right now in Golden State. But the way I mean who who if Jonathan Kaming wants to play more than 30 minutes a night, which is what he wants. He he averaged what 24 minutes this past season. 25. He’s been around that. He’s consistently been averaging about 25. Yeah. I’m just saying. So, he wants to be playing 30 something minutes a night. Whose minutes is he taking away at what position? Because talking about for the Warriors. Yeah, I’m talking about for the Warriors. I’m saying because he’s not taking minutes away from Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler came in and was a superior player to Jonathan Kaminga this past season because he’s a vet and because he is more ready. And I still think that Jonathan Kaminga needs to polish. No, but you could shorten your rotation and you could give less leeway to maybe a guy like Gary Payeyton who’s fit a lot of the role that you’ve asked for him to play. You know, be around the basket. Um be hard-nosed just in spite of his size, you know, play solid defense. Uh another energy player, another player that that you know doesn’t try to do too much with it. Gets to the corner will take the open three doesn’t do much creating. Kaminga the exact opposite. You know, he wants the ball in his hand. Jerry Payton the second doesn’t play the same position as Jonathan Kaminga. Not even close. So that’s my point though. Jimmy Butler’s playing 30 minutes per game. When Butler’s not on the floor, which is going to be quite a bit this year. You would have to imagine it’s Kaminga time. When Steph Curry’s not on the floor, you’d have to imagine it’s Kaminga time. So he’s going to get his moments uh during the regular season. He’s going to He did last year. Like there were plenty of moments during the regular season where it was Kaminga time. there were um maybe not after Jimmy rejoined the fold, but that was also go time for the Warriors where you know Jimmy was playing 30 minutes seemingly every night and not really taking days off minus an injury or two, right? They’re going to have to manage minutes for Jimmy Butler this season. There’s no question he’s a player who’s dealt with injury issues and is getting older as well. So, it’s not there won’t be moments for Jonathan Kaminga this season, but he doesn’t want it to be moments, Chuck. Like, he wants to be the guy every single night. And if you’re not in the starting five, I don’t see how you’re going to be finishing out the season averaging 33 minutes a night. Well, he’s going to be the guy just about anywhere that he gets traded to. Like, for example, let’s say Charlotte or or one of these teams. I don’t know what Charlotte would offer the Warriors, but one LaMelo Ball. No. Um, one of these teams at the deadline decide to get involved in the Kaminga sweep stakes. He signs a contract, a hypothetical contract at this point that is tradable. The Warriors still have the mindset to trade him. any team that he goes to most likely they’re trying to make him a young fixture to put him in there and you know see what he can do. Give him the runway and hopefully he’s Yeah, that’s what he wants. He deserves it. Like I don’t think he’s wrong for wanting to get his. Sure. But it’s about control at the end of the day and a contract is a contract and the Warriors have the rights to his contract right now. So they’re not just going to give him away for nothing. You know, Malik Monk if that deal really really then I think they 100% would have taken that. But you have to throw in Moody to that deal. I don’t know if Malik Monk’s the type of player that they want. I don’t think they have any type of player that they want. And that to me just tells me like if I’m the Warriors, I’m meeting him in the middle and I’m just saying, “Hey, fine. You want that? Maybe not the player option, but guarantee a little bit more money, trade clause. I I don’t know.” Going back to Kaminga’s role, I don’t think his role this year changes from last year. That’s what I’ll say. Well, are we I mean it was it was a tale of two different seasons. Are we talking December Kaminga where he was literally handed the keys for a month until he got hurt? Are we talking No, because Jimmy Butler wasn’t on the team at that point. Jimmy Butler wasn’t on the team. The Warriors were a totally different team without Jimmy Butler. So wise, you’re talking 18 minutes for Kaminga post Jimmy Butler. that kind of like rehabbing almost back into the lineup where they threw him out there for like 18 minutes seemingly every night and almost felt like he was on a a pitch count. I I’m just saying that I don’t think that the Warriors are going to carve out a bigger role for a guy that’s on the way out. But at the same time, if he is on the way out and you’re trying to attract buyers or teams and organizations and front offices who are interested in trading for him, they have to let him play enough that his value is high enough that they get what they want in return. So, here’s another example of a fine line to walk. But, like, I just don’t think that a ton is going to change about his role compared to what we saw at the end of the season. Like, what what do you feel like would change? You think he’s going to get more than 18, 19, 20 minutes a night? Um, I think I think maybe in moments when like if you know someone’s banged up like they’re never going to take a risk. The Warriors aren’t ever going to take a risk with a Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler for some of their older guys who play also who might be in the mix of the four. Moments, but it’s situational. There are going to be things that happen. There are going to be players that sit out. There’s going to be backtobacks. Like, there’s going to be plenty of moments for Kaminga to have his nights. The question is going to be not consistent. I don’t understand how you go into a season with kind of a verbal handshake of, hey, we’re we’re going to trade you, but we’re also going to try to work you in to help the team while also increasing your value. It’s just a weird kind of position to meander. It’s a tough position. And then you run into the fact like what if he worked on everything Steve Kerr wanted him to work on in the offseason. He comes back and all of a sudden he’s he’s ready to be a willing passer and he he fits what you’re trying to do. then like he’s not staying at that point or if he’s on the qualifying offer. He’s not getting into free agency and then entertaining an offer for the Warriors. I mean, that’s not really what we’re looking at right now. He seems to be someone that’s going to be traded regardless, but Joe Lake has said that, you know, we we want Kaminga here long term. So, who knows? We got a lot of time to talk about this before the season tips off. Uh preseason in just over a month and some change. The Kaminga decision in less than a month at this point. So whether it’s in 2 days or 30 days, it’s it’s in the next 30 days. A decision is going to be made from that camp. Kylin Mills, Charlie Walter. This is Lockdown Warriors, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. See you.

Warriors’ Lineup Shakeup: Melton, Moody, and Kuminga’s Futures Hang in Balance

Golden State’s roster puzzle takes center stage as Charlie Walter and Kylen Mills dissect potential starting lineups and player roles. From De’Anthony Melton’s sharpshooting fit alongside Steph Curry to Moses Moody’s defensive versatility at the three, every piece matters in the Warriors’ championship equation. The duo tackles Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation head-on, exploring how his desire for a larger role meshes with Golden State’s win-now mentality. Will Kuminga’s development align with the Warriors’ timeline, or could trade winds be blowing?

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