Warriors Camp Opens With Kuminga’s Contract Still in Limbo
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San Francisco, CA — Golden State heads into training camp without a new contract for restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, a topic that dominated the team’s media day.
Warriors
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all acknowledged the stalemate. Green said that once Kuminga signs and “plays great,” the issue will fade. Curry added that the club respects “a guy that’s trying to figure out his situation” and expects Kuminga to “be locked in” when he joins camp.
The Warriors have reached a multi-year agreement with veteran center Al Horford, but they plan to delay finalizing that deal until Kuminga’s status is resolved to preserve roster flexibility. Horford did not attend media day, yet players expressed enthusiasm for his arrival. Butler, without naming Horford, praised the incoming big man as an elite defender and proven winner.
Mavericks
In Dallas, head coach Jason Kidd said the starting lineup remains unsettled despite selecting No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg in June. “We’re going to look at a lot of combinations,” Kidd noted.
Everyone except Kyrie Irving is expected to practice fully when camp begins. Free-agent guard D’Angelo Russell is projected to start while Irving continues to rehab the ACL tear he suffered in March. Kidd downplayed recent suggestions that Irving is ahead of schedule, saying the star guard appears “on schedule” but not ahead of it.
Trail Blazers
Portland filled its training-camp roster to the 20-player limit by signing forward MarJon Beauchamp, center Liam Robbins and guard Javonte Cooke. All three deals are believed to be Exhibit 10 contracts.
Beauchamp, 24, the 24th pick in 2022, has logged 135 NBA appearances with Milwaukee, the Clippers and the Knicks, averaging 4.1 points in 10.9 minutes. Robbins, 26, a 7-footer, spent most of last season on a two-way contract with the Bucks before being waived in February. Cooke, also 26, averaged 17.0 points last year for the G League’s Oklahoma City Blue.
The Exhibit 10 structure allows Portland to convert any of the three to a two-way contract or retain their G League rights with bonuses if they spend at least 60 days with the Rip City Remix.
Source: Hoops Wire
