With the Warriors refusing to trade Markkanen with the Jazz, Kuminga hardened. Kuminga and his team are reportedly seeking a five-year, $224 million contract extension with a designated rookie clause.

To be honest, Kuminga's name should never have anything to do with the word maximum salary. But the max contracts of the four (CC, Barnes, Wagner Jr. and Mobley) in the same class still stimulated Kuminga's nerves to a certain extent.

But the biggest problem with Kuminga compared to players who have already received a max salary contract is that he has never had a team status with the Warriors that matches the max salary. CC and Barnes are not to mention the core, and Mobley and Xiaowa are also indispensable members of their respective teams in their future plans.

Has Kuminga shown his "indispensability"? Not yet. In the first two seasons, Kuminga could only spend time on the bench, and last season he only started 46 of the 74 games, which is considered a good game for half a season.

Cole never had a deep trust in Kuminga, and Kuminga complained in front of the media. Kerr was skilful at giving Kuminga some possession after he complained, and then knocked Kuminga into the cold as soon as the limelight passed.

After the end of the season, Kerr also said that next season the Warriors currently only have Curry and Dream Chasing positions "solid" next season. Although it is almost impossible for Kuminga to play as a substitute next season, Cole's words are still hammering Kuminga.

Last season, Kuminga's average minutes per game increased from 20 minutes in his second season to 26.3 minutes, but it still doesn't feel like a consistent starter. But in a limited time, Kuminga averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, shooting 52.9% from three-point range, 32.1% from three-point range, and 59.8% from the field.

Kuminga proved that he can score more points as he gets more offensive plays, which sounds like a no-brainer, but it's not easy to do. And Kuminga's efficiency hasn't dropped significantly, except for three-point shooting, of course.

Kuminga's 32 percent three-point shooting last season averaged 0.7 three-pointers per game, which wasn't up or down, and was even far off. For comparison, Wiggins, who was in poor form last season, was able to throw in 1.3 three-pointers on 35.8 percent shooting, his worst in 17 years.

Kuminga's impact is not to be said, shooting 63.4 percent from the field, and in the third year of his career, Kuminga has finally learned how to use his body to score under the basket. But his shooting still hasn't improved, and he can't shoot anywhere from the center except for the free throw line.

You can't get the top salary without shooting, even in the same era as Simmons, Kuminga can't compare to Simmons, who is a top match except for shooting, and Kuminga is still rough like a rookie.

His passing has improved, but it can only be said that it is not standing still. The performance of averaging 2.2 assists and 1.6 turnovers per game made it difficult for Warriors management to continue to give him the ball. Kuminga needs to continue to add offensive play to get a bargaining chip for a high-salary contract extension; And his rough offensive methods make it difficult for the Warriors to relinquish power at ease, which is the paradox.

Of course, we don't know how Kuminga will improve next season, and the Warriors don't know either, so they certainly won't give Kuminga a max contract in the offseason. The Warriors may give a five-year, $140 million contract, but Kuminga doesn't necessarily want it.

At the beginning, the Warriors didn't want to give Poole a contract extension with a maximum salary, but the man who fell from the sky threw the contract directly in Poole's face. Warriors management has already made one mistake, so there's no second mistake going to be made with Kuminga. The contract could be given, but only if Kuminga plays near All-Star caliber next season.

Of course, Kuminga understands this, and he hasn't stopped working hard since the offseason began. "For the last 60 days, Kuminga has been incredibly focused, practicing three times a day, practicing ball control, shooting, pick-and-roll reading, defensive awareness, singles and improving the mid-range," his trainer said in early August. ”

It is said that the rookie has been watching for three years, but Kuminga's jade may need to be polished for a longer time before it can show its true body.