Dub Hub: Draymond Green says Jonathan Kuminga’s benching was ‘blown out of proportion’

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, November 1st.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Draymond Green says Jonathan Kuminga’s benching was “blown out of proportion on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.
• Buddy Hield breaks record for most threes made by a player in their first five games with a new team.
• Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama records rare 5x5 statline vs. Jazz

Before Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr announced the surprising move to bench Jonathan Kuminga in favor of a revised starting lineup featuring Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. While some fans and media outlets reacted strongly to the change, Draymond Green offered a reasoned perspective, explaining that the decision was a response to the Warriors’ injury situation and not a statement on Kuminga’s performance.

As Green pointed out, the jumbo lineup that features Andrew Wiggins, Kuminga, Green, and Jackson-Davis relies heavily on the unique spacing created by Stephen Curry. However, with Curry and Wiggins sidelined due to injuries, sticking with the original lineup just didn’t make sense.

Kuminga, however, has embraced his bench role with an impressive level of maturity. In the two matchups against the Pelicans this week, he posted his best performances of the season, scoring 17 and 16 points on nearly 50% shooting. Playing the four off the bench seems to have allowed him to settle into his game which could be key to unlocking his potential on this year’s team.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, November 1st:

Warriors News:

Draymond believes media blew Kuminga’s ‘benching’ out of proportion | NBC Sports Bay Area

“It was 100 percent blown out of proportion,” Green said. “Which is why you see JK enter the game the way he entered the game with his foot on the gas pedal. And he entered the game with a force [we needed] him to play with.

“A complete overreaction because the reality is the lineup changes [with Steph Curry not playing]. With Steph not being out there you need to add more shooting in different spots. As opposed to JK being in, we added Moses [Moody] and Buddy [Hield] because you need that shooting to space the floor out.”

Jonathan Kuminga, Austin Reaves and 4 more names to watch as NBA trade market takes shape | The Athletic

Yet while rival executives believe the Warriors are more willing than ever to include Kuminga in a trade of significant magnitude, the fact remains that they’re setting their sights very high in terms of possible targets. One name to monitor is Jimmy Butler, the 35-year-old Miami Heat star who league sources say drew interest from the Warriors during the offseason and who did not come to terms on an extension. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. — Amick

Draymond Green questions the level of ‘seriousness’ of the players on the Thunder

The Warriors are off to a strong 4-1 start, but will it turn out to be another mirage? | CBS Sports

The Warriors, who are back to zipping the ball around offensively, lead the league in assists and are second to the Celtics with 17.6 made 3-pointers per game, need to be at full strength when they embark upon this upcoming road trip, which features dates at Houston, Cleveland, Boston and Oklahoma City.

The last three teams listed there have a combined record of 13-1 so far, and it won’t get any easier when the Warriors return home to face Dallas and Memphis. Which brings us back to the hot start last season. That proved to be a mirage as the Warriors went from 5-1 to 6-8 in two weeks. That kind of crash could absolutely be in the cards again with the opponents they’re about to face.

Buddy Hield’s 24 threes breaks record for most by a player in their first five games with a new team

NBA News:

Magic star Paolo Banchero out indefinitely with torn right oblique | NBA

After undergoing further testing today in Cleveland, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Banchero will be out indefinitely and his return to play will depend on how he responds to treatment. He will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks. Banchero suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Orlando’s game at Chicago on Oct. 30.

Banchero (6-foot-10, 250 pounds) has played and started in five games this season with Orlando, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 36.4 minutes per game. He has led (or tied) the team in scoring three times, in rebounding twice and in assists three times. Banchero has scored in double figures five times, 20-plus points three times and 30-plus points three times, including a career-high 50 points on Oct. 28 vs. Indiana.

What If Giannis Antetokounmpo Requests a Trade? This 3-Team Deal Could Get It Done | Bleacher Report

Bucks get:

Reed Sheppard (from Rockets)

Jabari Smith Jr. (from Rockets)

Amen Thompson (from Rockets)

Wendell Moore Jr. (from Pistons)

2027 first-rounder (higher of the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns or Rockets, from Rockets)

2028 first-round swap (from Rockets)

2029 first-rounder (highest of the Dallas Mavericks, Suns or Rockets, from Rockets)

2031 first-rounder (from Rockets)

$29.4 million trade exception (Giannis Antetokounmpo)

$2.1 million trade exception (AJ Green)

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama records his second career 5x5

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Trayce Jackson-Davis is excelling in starting role for Warriors

If there was ever an NBA All-Sophomore team, TJD would be on a beeline to make it this season. His combination of bounce and height is making it tougher for Coach Steve Kerr to take him out of the game; this young man is taking very much after his father Dale Davis.

A tweet to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.