Steve Kerr has a warning for Jonathan Kuminga ahead of return

The Warriors are 12-2 since acquiring Jimmy Butler, and they're about to get another significant reinforcement. Jonathan Kuminga, averaging a career-high 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, will return Thursday after missing two months of action with an ankle sprain. 

While Kuminga's return will give Golden State another dynamic offensive weapon, head coach Steve Kerr worries that the fourth-year forward may disrupt his team's chemistry. Speaking to "Willard & Dibs" on Monday, Kerr had some cautionary words for Kuminga. 

"....We're going to run [our offense] through Jimmy Butler, and we're going to run through Steph Curry," Kerr said, via 95.7 The Game. "So what that requires of JK is to be settling into a role to support those guys and that's slightly different and that's just something that he has to adapt to."

The longtime coach further noted that Kuminga had turned into a hub in Golden State's offense before his injury, especially with his ability to attack the rim. With Butler excelling in that specific role, Kuminga must adapt on the fly to avoid redundancy.   

Kerr's words were prudent since Kuminga's skillset is awfully similar to that of Butler. Much like Butler, the Congolese forward is a slasher who prefers to attack the rim and take advantage of mismatches.

It's increasingly clear that Kuminga will come off the bench for the rest of the season. There's sound logic in that decision. The Warriors can't afford to give three non-shooters heavy minutes, with Draymond Green and Butler already playing key roles as part of the starting and closing units. As such, Kuminga will likely play 20-22 minutes off the bench, a role that will allow him to provide energy when the starters take a breather.

The next few months are an audition for Kuminga's long-term future in the Bay Area. The 22-year-old will be a restricted free agent this offseason after he failed to reach a contract extension with the Warriors before the 2024 deadline.