Jonathan Kuminga returned from a 31-game absence late in the regular season and struggled to settle into a low-usage, off-ball reserve role with Jimmy Butler suddenly in the mix for the Golden State Warriors. Steve Kerr pulled Kuminga from the rotation in the first round of the playoffs and has made regular reference about Kuminga’s need to sharpen the supplementary, role-playing aspects of his game.

But Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury changed the landscape and exposed the offensive shortcomings around the star guard. The Warriors had a desperate need for higher level creation, scoring and general offensive talent in the second round. Kuminga busted through the door with 18, 30, 23 and 26 points on 55 percent shooting the last four games against an active group of Minnesota Timberwolves defenders who struggled to stay in front of him or keep him off the free-throw line (25 attempts).

That sample on that stage only hardened Kuminga’s belief in chasing his preferred personal career path. His first crack at free agency is about finding the contract he desires but also seeking what he wants, not necessarily conforming into what this specific version of the Warriors needs. Kuminga has long held a dream of evolving into a star wing capable of driving an offense and leading a team. With his future in the balance this next month, he’s training and preparing accordingly.

“That’s what’s been on my mind,” Kuminga told The Athletic. “Things take time, but I feel like I’m at the point where that has to be my priority, to just be one of the guys a team relies on. Aiming to be an All-Star. Multiple times. Aiming to be great. … Wherever I’m going to be at, it don’t matter if it’s the Warriors or if it’s anywhere else, it’s something I want. I want to see what I could do. I know I got it. So I want to really see. I’ve never got that chance.”

Read the rest of my story here.

Remember Kobe Bryant’s incredible tenure with the Charlotte Hornets? Or Kawhi Leonard’s superb two-way play with the Indiana Pacers? Of course you don’t, because they never suited up for those teams. On their respective draft nights though, they put on those team’s hats. It was known that they were part of a trade, and wouldn’t play for those teams, but those deals weren’t official as the new league year hadn’t occurred yet. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft consisted of many occurrences of draftees putting on a hat of a team they won’t be starting their career with.

The NBA Should Fix Their Nearly Annual Draft Day Hat Problem

Khaman Maluach Will Not Be Playing For The Houston Rockets

Khaman Malauch was the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. After his selection, he put on a Houston Rockets hat. His family was given a hat to display on their table. This unforgettable moment for Khaman and his family will feature pictures of him wearing the cap of a team everybody knows he won’t be playing for.

That’s because Houston traded that pick to the Phoenix Suns. It switched hands in the deal that put Kevin Durant in a Rockets jersey. Nobody believes that a Rockets team that has Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams (recently re-signed) would draft a center. The trade was announced on Sunday but can’t be made official until the new league year begins on July 6.

The thing is, prior to the 11th pick being announced, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that the Suns acquired Maluach in a proposed trade. So if Silver is going to state that to the audience at the draft, and all those watching at home, why not stop the charade and let Maluach wear a Suns hat? Even Steven A. Smith on the broadcast seemed very confused about Silver’s announcement.

This happens every year. It happened six picks after Maluach when the Memphis Grizzlies ‘drafted’ center Yang Hansen 16th overall. It was announced though by Shams Charania, and on the air,that Memphis dealt that pick. The 16th pick was instead going to the Portland Trail Blazers. Hansen wasn’t in the green room, but he was in the crowd and walked down once his name was called to put on a Grizzlies cap. Two picks after that, Silver announced that Hansen was acquired by Portland in a proposed trade.

The Portland Trail Blazers are trading Cedric Coward at No. 11 to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources said. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

More Occurences In The First Round

With numerous draft day trades occurring, those weren’t the only two. Walter Clayton Jr. put on a Washington Wizards hat knowing he would instead be playing for the Utah Jazz. Vice versa for Will Riley, who was given a Jazz cap even though his career will begin with the Wizards. Nique Clifford donned an Oklahoma City Thunder hat even though it was known he was headed to the Sacramento Kings.

On the broadcast, Bob Myers mentioned how it’s more surprising when a player is actually putting on the hat of the team he will be playing for. On what is such an important day for these young men, let’s do what is necessary to make sure they have the right team’s gear on after they are selected.

Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Grizzlies Announce Trade With Rockets After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Memphis Grizzlies haven’t been shy to trade recently. After dealing Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic before the NBA Finals ended, they also traded up from pick No. 16 to No. 11 and selected Washington State swingman Cedric Coward on Wednesday.

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Memphis sent out a 2028 first-rounder (via Orlando), a 2027 second-rounder (via the Atlanta Hawks), and a 2028 second-rounder (via the Sacramento Kings) in the deal. The 6-foot-5-inch Coward shot 38.8 percent from deep in college and a combined 2.5 blocks and steals this past season.

The Grizzlies also acquired the No. 59 overall pick’s draft rights after the second round finished, via their social media.

Tennessee Volunteers forward Tobe Awaka (11) and guard Jahmai Mashack (15).Lon Horwedel/USA TODAY Sports

“The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has agreed in principle to acquire the draft rights to Jahmai Mashack, the No. 59 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, from the Houston Rockets as part of a trade that is not yet final,” they said.

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They announced the deal shortly after midnight EST on Friday.

Mahsack averaged 4.2 points on 44 percent shooting (34.3 percent 3 PT) with 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 18.2 minutes across four seasons for Tennessee. The Volunteers converted the 6-foot-4-inch, 201-pounder to a full-time starter this past season.

Mahsack averaged 5.8 points on 42.1 percent shooting (30 percent 3 PT) with four rebounds for the Volunteers in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Memphis also selected West Virginia guard Javon Small No. 48 overall. Next up for Coward, Small, and Mahsack is Summer League, which will take place in July.

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Related: Cedric Coward Sends Ja Morant Message After Grizzlies’ NBA Draft Trade

Related: Grizzlies Trade Report Drops After Jaren Jackson Jr. Decision

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.

The Golden State Warriors nearly punched their ticket into the playoffs, though they couldn’t quite avoid the Play-In Tournament.

At the trade deadline, the club had a losing record. Then they acquired Jimmy Butler, which seemingly changed everything.

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The last handful of games saw the Warriors’ form get shakier, though, as they looked far less formidable than they did early on with Butler in the lineup.

An overtime loss to the LA Clippers — in Chase Center — was quite a brutal way to get sent to the Play-In Tournament. However, Butler has been in the play-in games while also making the NBA Finals, which Stephen Curry acknowledged.

“We joked about that last week. He (Jimmy) went into the play-in packing for two months, so we would love to have that opportunity,” Curry said. “What we can learn is we need to win. We haven’t had a good outcome (in play-in).”

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry watches as coach Steve Kerr reacts at Chase Center.John Hefti-Imagn Images

The Warriors will look to have a similar feat. Evidently, they might have a better chance at a first-round win as the No. 7 seed taking on the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets than they would have against the No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.

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Still, they’ve got to take care of the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in game.

NBA makes Grizzlies-Warriors announcement

With the regular season formally coming to a close, the league announced officially the postseason schedule.

The winner between the Warriors and Grizzlies — to secure the No. 7 seed — will tip off the playoffs on Sunday against the Rockets.

“NBA announces the winner of Warriors/Grizzlies play-in game on Tuesday night at Chase Center will open NBA Playoffs Sunday in Houston,” John Dickinson shared on X.

The Warriors, with a loss, would then take on the winner of the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks — also in Chase Center — for a shot at the No. 8 seed and matchup against the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.