For many reasons, the Charlotte Hornets organization would likely want to be in the Golden State Warriors' shoes. Having won four titles in the previous 10 seasons and competing for a fifth this year, Golden State serves as an example of how an NBA franchise should be run.
Evidently, the Warriors have committed some mistakes over the years. Still, some shrewd moves, such as the midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler in this campaign, have allowed them to return to championship contention time and time again.
The team would be facing a dilemma in the summer, though, as arguably its best young player, Jonathan Kuminga, has fallen out of the rotation. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old forward, the arrival of Butler and the squad's incredible depth in the positions he plays have left the coaching staff no choice but to bench him in the final game of the regular season, the Play-In Tournament, and the playoff opener against the Houston Rockets.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged how difficult it is to make Kuminga a healthy scratch, presumably because the potential restricted free agent was supposed to be a key piece for Golden State once Stephen Curry retires from playing. But now, it might have to face a future without its first-round pick in the 2021 draft.
Hornets should keep an eye on Jonathan Kuminga
It's still unclear if Kuminga would want to stay with the Dubs, who haven't been able to provide him with a consistent role even before the Butler trade. If he enters restricted free agency, his current employer would have the right to match any offer he could receive, but he might not be amenable to that idea.
Should a parting of ways be inevitable, the Hornets have to be ready to consider bringing Kuminga to the fold, as he looks like a perfect complementary piece for their young core. He has displayed a knack for scoring, which could take the pressure off LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. In addition, he is a solid off-ball threat who doesn't always need the ball in his hands to be effective on offense.
Defensively, the fourth-year pro still has a long way to go despite his strength and athleticism. He has yet to show he can be a reliable help defender or secondary rim protector. However, Charles Lee's schemes might be able to mask those deficiencies.
The only reason for Charlotte not to do its due diligence on Kuminga is if it wins the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, as the presumptive first-overall pick in this summer's draft plays nearly the same positions as the possibly disgruntled Warriors youngster. It's worth noting, though, that despite the Hornets' pursuit of a bottom-three ranking in the standings, they have just a 14.0 percent chance of landing the No. 1 draft selection. If Flagg is out of reach, the Congolese standout may not be a bad consolation prize.
Of course, Kuminga's availability would be contingent on Golden State's willingness to let him walk via free agency or trade. However, the organization might not have too much of a say in the matter because of its expensive payroll and after its unfortunate treatment of the potential star.