After the Jimmy Butler trade, Steve Kerr has completely overhauled the team, shaking up the roster, tweaking the system, and redefining their overall approach. Jonathan Kuminga’s return seemed a little difficult with everything working out perfectly as Golden State had won 5 games straight. But Kuminga showed up against the Kings looking as confident and explosive as ever.
Any concerns about his ankle? Nowhere to be seen. He attacked without hesitation, playing with the kind of energy that makes him such a problem for defenses. In just 20 minutes, he made his presence felt—dropping 18 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting. And he didn’t stop there. Against the Knicks, he kept the momentum going, putting up 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists in another solid 20-minute outing.
Now this has raised some concerns for Kerr. He has some tough decisions to make as the Warriors rotation gets deeper. Following Golden State’s hard-fought 97-94 historic win over the Knicks, Kerr acknowledged that managing minutes will only get trickier with Jonathan Kuminga back in the mix. Before his return, the Warriors had settled into a nine-man rotation, but now, they’re at 10.
With Brandin Podziemski nearing a return, that number could soon jump to 11. Kerr confirmed before they took on the Knicks that “the target” for his return is Tuesday against the Bucks. The rookie guard has missed the last four games with a minor back issue, and his return will only add to the Warriors’ growing depth.
When asked if that might be too much, Kerr admitted, “Probably, yeah.”
He explained that earlier in the season, the team ran a 12-man rotation due to a lack of separation between players. “We just felt like we needed to establish our defense and just get everybody playing, you know, hard and short bursts,” Kerr said. “Obviously, it worked for a while, and then it didn’t. And then we had to cut down our rotation.”
With Jonathan Kuminga back and Brandin Podziemski close to returning, Steve Kerr realizes that there will likely be an odd man out of the rotation:
“I would hate to take anybody out of the rotation right now the way everyone is playing, but I’m probably going to have to.” pic.twitter.com/mV556EEoXt
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 15, 2025
While he would love to keep everyone in the mix, Kerr knows it’s difficult to run with more than 10 guys consistently. “I would hate to take anybody out of the rotation right now the way everyone’s playing, but I’m probably going to have to,” he admitted. At some point, tough decisions will have to be made, even if everyone is contributing.
That’s just one of the challenges that come with success, and Kerr knows a thing or two about winning. With the Warriors’ 97-94 win over the Knicks, Steve Kerr made history, becoming the franchise’s all-time winningest coach with 558 regular-season victories. He surpassed Warriors legend Alvin Attles, who held the previous record with 557.
Taking over as head coach in 2014, Kerr wasted no time transforming the team. His first win came against the Kings that October, and a decade later, he’s built a dynasty. With a 558-302 (.649) career record, he holds the highest win percentage in Warriors history and ranks fifth all-time among NBA coaches with at least 300 wins.
From championship runs to record-breaking milestones, Kerr’s impact on Golden State is undeniable. But even with all the success, the Warriors might be facing some major roster decisions this summer.
Steve Kerr could lose a young talent now to win a championship sooner
Since Butler arrived at the trade deadline, the Warriors have been rolling, winning 12 of their last 14 games. Their latest flex? A 97-94 over the Knicks. After Kuminga scored 10 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and 5 assists on minutes restriction in his second match after missing 31 games with an ankle injury.
But his strong play doesn’t guarantee he’ll be in Golden State long-term. Reports suggest the front office, led by GM Mike Dunleavy, could explore a sign-and-trade this summer. One name already linked to a potential deal? Clippers sharpshooter Norman Powell.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus pointed out that keeping Kuminga could push the Warriors into dangerous tax territory. Instead, they could flip him for immediate value while avoiding second-apron restrictions. Powell, a 2019 NBA champion, is thriving this season, averaging 23.8 points per game while knocking down 42.4% from deep.
October 20, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right) talks to forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Losing Kuminga would sting, but Powell would give Curry the most reliable scoring partner he’s had since prime Klay Thompson. His ability to create his own shot and stretch the floor could be exactly what this team needs.
With their championship window still open, the Warriors have tough decisions ahead. If they want to maximize their shot with Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green, this could be a move worth making.
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