Getty
Jonathan Kuminga reacts during a Warriors game as the team draws a firm line in ongoing trade talks around his future.
The Golden State Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks last week in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. The deal ended a five-year tenure marked by tension between Kuminga and head coach Steve Kerr.
New reporting from ESPN’s Anthony Slater reveals just how close the Warriors came to avoiding that entire situation. Golden State held the seventh pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and Franz Wagner was very much in play as an alternative to Kuminga.
Coaching Staff Wanted Wagner Over Kuminga
GettyFranz Wagner of the Orlando Magic.
According to Slater’s reporting, a group of Warriors coaches attended Wagner’s predraft workout and came away adamant that he would be an ideal choice and fit in Kerr’s system.
Wagner went eighth overall to the Orlando Magic and has since developed into a consistent 20-point-per-game scorer. He’s averaged at least 20 points in each of the past three seasons while shooting efficiently and fitting seamlessly into Orlando’s system.
The German wing represented exactly the type of player Kerr’s staff believed would thrive in Golden State’s motion offense. His passing ability, basketball IQ, and willingness to play within a system matched what the Warriors needed from their lottery pick.
But the coaching staff didn’t make the final decision. Then-assistant coach Kenny Atkinson ran Kuminga’s workout and maintained strong belief in him through his final days with the organization before leaving to become the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach in 2024.
More importantly, team owner Joe Lacob reportedly had his own preference.
Lacob Pushed for Kuminga Despite Staff Concerns
GettyGolden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
Lacob and then-general manager Bob Myers visited Kuminga in Miami six days before the draft. When the Warriors were on the clock with both Kuminga and Wagner available, Lacob pushed for his preferred option, according to team sources cited by Slater. Myers and Mike Dunleavy, then an assistant GM, didn’t object.
“Bob and I have felt for several years that we’ve needed physicality,” Lacob said that night. “Athleticism and physicality. That’s what really excites me about him.”
The decision to draft Kuminga over Wagner reportedly became a central tension point across the organization over the following years. Wagner has been exactly what Orlando needed, while Kuminga never found consistent footing in Golden State’s system despite flashes of elite athleticism and defensive versatility.
Kerr reportedly wasn’t heavily involved in the draft process that summer. He was with Team USA preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and received only occasional reports from afar. He didn’t have a firm opinion on Kuminga at the time, according to team sources.
That dynamic created an uncomfortable situation from the start. The coaching staff had identified Wagner as the better fit. Ownership pushed for Kuminga based on athleticism and physical tools. And the player who ultimately got drafted never received full buy-in from the coach who would be responsible for his development.
What Wagner’s Success Says About Warriors’ Decision
Wagner has thrived in Orlando precisely because he fits what their system needs. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists last season while shooting 48.2% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range. His game translates to winning basketball without requiring heavy usage or plays designed specifically for him.
That’s exactly what the Warriors coaching staff saw in his predraft workout. Wagner would have complemented Stephen Curry and Draymond Green seamlessly, providing size on the wing while operating within the motion offense that made Golden State successful.
Kuminga, meanwhile, struggled to find his role over five seasons. He showed promise at times, particularly during his third season when Green’s suspension opened playing time. But the fit never materialized the way ownership hoped when they overruled the coaching staff’s preference.
The relationship deteriorated to the point where Kuminga played just 117 minutes over his final two months as a Warrior.
What’s Next for Warriors
Golden State now moves forward with Porzingis, whose injury history creates its own concerns about availability. The 7-foot-2 center hasn’t played since early January and has missed 100 games over the past two and a half seasons.
The Kuminga trade closes a chapter on one of the franchise’s most disappointing draft picks in recent memory. Whether that disappointment stems from talent evaluation, organizational dysfunction, or simply a poor fit remains debatable.
What’s clear from Slater’s reporting is that the coaching staff saw this coming. They identified Wagner as the better fit for their system back in 2021. Ownership made a different call based on physical tools and upside. Five years later, the Warriors traded Kuminga for an expiring contract while Wagner continues thriving in Orlando.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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