Going into the 2022-23 NBA season, third-year center James Weisman and second-year Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody were expected to be big pieces of the Warriors’ puzzle.
After veterans Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. left in the offseason, it looked like there would be plenty of opportunities for the Warriors youngster to score heavy hours and learn the lessons of the job.
But eight games into the season, that doesn’t seem to be the case, with several Eastern Conference NBA scouts raising concerns about the potential of the Warriors’ young core, especially Kuminga and Wiseman.
One scout said, “I understand why they let go of their veteran bench players and placed big bets on Kuminga, Moody and Wiseman.” FOX Sports Analyst Ric Bucher on tuesday. “Moody is probably fine and can pick up some of the time comparable players played last year.
“Kuminga is not that good and probably only situational, so downgrading him from Otto Porter or Gary Payton could be a problem depending on the matchup. Playing against him in an otherwise really important match could undermine their ability to win.”
Across eight games, Moody is playing most of the trio at 16.6 minutes per game. Moody shoots only 39.5% from the field, averaging 6.4 points, but his effort and determination shows night after night.
Weisman played at least 16 minutes in the Warriors’ first four contests, but while struggling hard on defense, he averaged 10.3 minutes in the last four games. Over the years, he has recorded 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
It is alarming that Kuminga has not been involved in the first eight matches. He didn’t play a minute in his two games, both against Miami He was against the Heat. Other than that, he has scored only 2.7 points in 33.3% of his shots in 10.9 minutes on the field per game.
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“For the Warriors to return to the Finals, Wiseman or Kuminga has to have a Jordan Poole year and break out,” another Eastern Conference scout told Butcher. “Neither played college basketball, but they were put on the best teams in the NBA. A group of smart players who know how to play and cut.”
it’s early Golden State has played only eight of the 82-game marathon.
But the Warriors need a young core to earn Coach Steve Kerr’s trust as he navigates choppy waves in the first few weeks of the regular season.
