It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the Warriors are making commitments to three of their most promising young players.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Golden State will pick up the fourth-year option for James Wiseman and the third-year options for Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga before Monday’s deadline.
Wiseman’s option will pay him a little over $12 million next year. In 2024-25, the Warriors will have the opportunity give Wiseman a qualifying offer $15.8 million. If both sides were to not agree on that, Wiseman would become a free agent.
Kuminga’s extension for next year is worth a little more than $6 million. In 2023-24, his extension would cost $7.6 million, with his qualifying offer in 2025-26 being worth $10.2 million. For Moody, next year’s extension is a little under $4 million. In 2023-24, his extension would cost $5.8 million and his 2025-26 qualifying offer would be a little over $8 million.
Ironically, Moody is the cheapest of the three and also the farthest along. After getting a DNP in the season opener, Moody is the most firmly cemented in Golden State’s rotation as the first small forward off the bench. Wiseman has been getting backup center minutes, but the Warriors have struggled mightily with him on the floor, and he was pulled from the rotation in the second half on Saturday.
Kuminga, despite having perhaps the highest ceiling of the three, is on the outside looking in. Kuminga isn’t a good enough shooter yet to get minutes at the wing positions, meaning he would have to displace the extremely steady JaMychal Green or Wiseman at the five to get serious minutes.
There will surly be games this season where the Warriors find time for him to play, but he will need to show more consistency to crack the rotation. That’s especially true right now, when Golden State’s young second unit is getting blown out repeatedly.