The Golden State Warriors became a modern dynasty 10 years ago. However, former Sacramento Kings Guard Rashad McCants thinks a shift is coming in the Northern California basketball scene — and that Warriors Power Forward Jonathan Kuminga, who’s currently a restricted free agent, can help tilt the scales by landing with the Kings. Read on for McCant’s statement regarding Kuminga.
Ex-Sacramento Kings Guard on Jonathan Kuminga
McCants believes that Kuminga should leave the Golden State Warriors for the Sacramento Kings. McCants, 41, also slammed Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr.
McCants told SportsCasting in an exclusive interview, “He needs to get out of there … I know that. Jonathan Kuminga there is bad for business. I don’t think Steve Kerr is the greatest coach of developing young players. He inherited a team that had great players already established, and now that you see this (window) dwindle, there is really no development, no bright side after Steph Curry.”
Kuminga’s Fit in Sacramento
McCants believes that Kuminga can fit in Sacramento. It’s just a matter of what direction the Sacramento Kings want to go in.
McCants told SportsCasting, “If you bring Kuminga down, he has to figure out, is he a No. 2 or a No. 3 (option) behind Zach (LaVine) and DeMar (DeRozan)? And then there’s (Domantas) Sabonis, their All-Star, so are you a No. 4? If DeRozan and Zach LaVine are both still saying we are at our peak, in our prime, and they can jell together between the four of them, you have a really strong team. I think back to the Sacramento teams with Bibby and Peja. If they brought that type of offensive (efficiency) back, it will be hard to stop the Kings.”
McCants continued, “Malik Monk had to play the point guard position (in Sacramento). Even though he can, and I think that’s his natural position, he loves to play the ‘2‘ guard as well. So I think him going to Golden State would be incredible for that.”
Final Thoughts
McCants also commented on the Sacramento Kings potentially adding free agent Guard Russell Westbrook. Westbrook, 36, last played for the Denver Nuggets.
McCants said, “Someone like Westbrook, with DeRozan, LaVine, Sabonis — you could have something in the West that resembles the Spurs and how they are building right now. It could look like Houston. Three teams with great, dynamic players. And having a young player like Kuminga to add with DeRozan would be dope.”
McCants also gave his two cents on whether the Kings will always need to go the trade route to add key players as a small market team in the NBA. The North Carolina alum said, “It really depends on the player. The players now are all chasing nostalgia. When you’re doing that, you forget about being in a place where you can play, and grow, and win. Sacramento is no different than Milwaukee, Denver, Portland, or Memphis. Small market, but incredible fans, great arena, the owners spend money. And then you look at the coaching.
“If they bring in great coaching — and I think Mike Brown was a step in the right direction — then you’ve got something there. I think they give up too quickly. They are indecisive about what direction to go and what star they want to pick. Just go out there, play smart, and play together. Get the guys to buy into the system.
“I don’t think it should be about whether the market is big enough, about competing with the Clippers and Lakers and Golden State. I just think you build your team up based on how good you think you can be, how hard you work, how much you prepare. If those things happen, I think any team has a good chance of winning. Especially with the talent the Kings have. There is no reason why those guys shouldn’t be competing.”
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