Warriors beat writer Danny Emerman shares his thoughts on the NBA
It was the best of times for Moses Moody, but it might be the worst of times for Jonathan Kuminga.
Moody got paid, inking a three-year, $39 million extension with the Warriors. Golden State rewarded him for being an excellent teammate, producing when given opportunities, and working hard this summer to improve.
It’s a great haul for Moody, who got life-changing money even while he’s bounced in and out of the rotation.
Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody, left, shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Jalen McDaniels (7) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Moody and his agent, Rich Paul, read the market and noticed that the NBA’s middle class is shrinking, even as the money overall keeps increasing. Even if he got a consistent role and produced to his ability, that midlevel contract probably wouldn’t be waiting for him as a restricted free agent.
Jaden Hardy, who has probably proven more as a scorer in Dallas, signed an extension for $20 million less than Moody. Last year, Nickeil Alexander-Walker inked a two-year, $9 million deal. Ayo Dosunmu got 3/21. Talen Horton-Tucker signed a non-guaranteed, one-year contract.
Even for young players with upside like Moody, the money isn’t there for bench wings anymore.
Then there’s Kuminga, who is saying the right things after not getting an extension done. There was never a substantial negotiation between the Warriors and Kuminga, with Golden State prioritizing in-season flexibility and wanting to see more from the former seventh overall pick. It didn’t make sense for the Warriors to offer him the market rate of at least $30 million per year, and it didn’t make sense for Kuminga to take anything less.
Kuminga has the talent, but fit is everything in the NBA. His fit with the Warriors has never been squeaky-clean, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change. It’s not going to be easy for Kuminga to prove he’s a $200 million player in Golden State’s context.
The Warriors don’t have the frontcourt spacing to create driving lanes for Kuminga. He’s starting in a lineup that puts him at his preferred position of small forward even as he’s been most productive as a pro at the four.
The best way for Kuminga to excel this year, and thereby cash in, is for him to become the player the Warriors coaching staff has been trying to summon since he stepped into the league: a tenacious on-ball defender and consistent rebounder. He has the tools to do so. If he can layer those skills on top of his otherworldly athleticism and downhill ability, he’d become unassailable.
Getting that type of play out of Kuminga has been easier said than done.
The good news for Kuminga is that five teams are projected to have at least $30 million in cap space next summer, with several others having the ability to maneuver into that range.
Someone’s going to back up the Brinks truck for Kuminga (and the Warriors will have the right to match). But by threading the needle, the Warriors introduced more variables for Kuminga in a point of his career where it should be simple. By not having the kind of security Moody got, the spotlight on Kuminga gets dialed up.
The 3-point math
The Boston Celtics put up 61 and 45 3-pointers in their first two games. So much for the Warriors leading the league in 3-point attempts.
Another lost year for Wiseman
James Wiseman tore his Achilles in the Pacers’ season opener, likely knocking him out for the year.
It’s a bummer for the former Warrior, who will now have missed two entire seasons since getting drafted second overall in 2020. At the end of this season, he’ll have played in 148 of 410 possible games.
The whistles
Fouls called per game are back up to 22, an increase over last year’s 18.7. Teams are taking over five foul shots per game more compared to last season.
On Friday, the 76ers and Raptors combined for 99 foul shots. It was a mess.
In the second half of last season, the officials famously stopped calling touch fouls, limiting baiters. It created a better game aesthetically and stabilized what would have been an outrageous scoring boom.
It’s still too early to make grand conclusions, but the trend is something to monitor.
First week overreactions
* With a fixed jumper, Jayson Tatum could make a legitimate MVP run — and his Celtics have a chance to join the 2016 Warriors as one of three 70-win teams.
* That 2025 Clippers pick heading to the Thunder is going to get real juicy.
* Jordan Poole is back.
* Dare I say it…Is this the year LaMelo Ball figures it out?
* The Orlando Magic are the Celtics’ biggest threat in the East. Wait, what?