NBA fans—divided by teams, united by opinions. And one opinion we can agree on is that it wasn’t meant to be for Jonathan Kuminga at the Golden State Warriors. It’s sad to see, truly. For a man of his talents, he was predicted to tear the world apart. We saw flashes, like back-to-back 34-point games in late December 2024, where he showcased the explosive athleticism and upside everyone had hoped for. But it’s crazy what injuries can do to a man, slowing his momentum just as he was finding his rhythm. Even if there was a reprieve, the February signing of Jimmy Butler threw that out the window.

Steve Kerr himself has admitted that playing Kuminga and Butler in the same lineup won’t work. “I have to read what we need. I have to read who’s playing well together. And to be very frank, the Jimmy / JK (Kuminga) combination has not been great and that’s the tricky part here. And I’m playing Jimmy 40 minutes a night because Jimmy is, he’s one of the very best players in the league,” said Kerr to 95.7 The Game.

So, the biggest question is- where will Jonathan Kuminga go next? You can be sure the whole of the NBA will be looking to snap up the 22-year-old. Well, the surprising team throwing their name into the hat is the Brooklyn Nets. The word on the street is that they could snap up the soon-to-be restricted free agent on a sign-and-trade destination.

“Brooklyn’s true level of interest remains to be seen, but Kuminga could not come to terms with Golden State last fall when he was seeking a contract higher than the $30 million in average annual salary that went to fellow Class of 2021 first-round draftees Jalen Suggs (Orlando) and Jalen Johnson (Atlanta),” said NBA contributor Marc Stein to NBC.

As much as the Dub Nation would love to see Jonathan Kuminga‘s enthusiasm and energy on the Chase Center hardwood, it’s not meant to be. With Jimmy Butler, they’re ready to reinvigorate their championship push. But according to Kerr’s admission, Jimmy is being overworked.

Kerr makes “mistake” playing Butler too long in 3rd quarter of game 1 vs Rockets

Butler’s antics on the court might make it seem like he’s still in his prime. But in actuality, he’s 35. Overworking him will only make it worse for the Golden State. This really puts Coach Kerr in a dilemma. Butler is vital to their postseason run. He gives Stephen Curry the freedom required to pull strings, all while pumping in massive numbers game after game. So, what does Kerr think about this situation?

“I thought where I made a mistake [was when] we were rolling in the 3rd quarter and I kept Jimmy out there because we were rolling. I thought I played him too much in the second half. So I definitely need to work on the rotations and make sure we’re getting guys resting and make sure we’re bringing in fresh bodies,” said Kerr in a post-practice interview.

The 6-time All-Starrer has averaged 32.7 minutes per game in 30 games he’s played in the Bay Area. For a man who’s slowly entering his twilight years, that’s a ridiculous amount. And it’s only gonna get worse from here. Don’t get it twisted- his 17.9/5.5/5.9 scoreline for the Golden State just speaks of the unbelievable job he’s doing. But as for his game time, Kerr said that he doesn’t mind playing someone like Jimmy Buckets for 40-42 minutes per game.

So, all eyes in Game 2 between the Warriors and Rockets will be on how Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga are deployed. Butler’s due to get a shift in for sure. But as for Kuminga, he should be counting down the numbered minutes he has in the Bay Area. What do you think about this situation so far?