October 26th 2024.
As the NBA season kicks off, there's a lot to talk about. Warriors beat writer Danny Emerman has some thoughts to share on the recent happenings in the league. For one, it's been a rollercoaster for young players Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga.
Moody recently signed a three-year, $39 million extension with the Warriors, a huge payday for the 20-year-old. Despite not having a consistent role in the rotation, Moody's hard work and dedication to improving this summer didn't go unnoticed by Golden State. He's proven to be an excellent teammate and has shown promise when given the opportunity to play.
However, Moody's agent, Rich Paul, saw the current state of the NBA's middle class and advised his client to secure the bag while he can. The market for bench wings is shrinking, making it unlikely that Moody would receive a midlevel contract as a restricted free agent. For example, Jaden Hardy, who has been more productive as a scorer in Dallas, signed an extension for $20 million less than Moody. And last year, Nickeil Alexander-Walker signed a two-year, $9 million deal, while Ayo Dosunmu got 3/21 and Talen Horton-Tucker signed a non-guaranteed, one-year contract. The money just isn't there for young players with upside like Moody.
On the other hand, Kuminga, the former seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft, has yet to see an extension from the Warriors. This may be a blessing in disguise, as Kuminga's fit with the team has never been seamless. It's not easy for him to prove himself as a $200 million player in Golden State's system, lacking frontcourt spacing and playing out of position at small forward. The best way for him to excel and earn that big payday is to focus on becoming a tenacious defender and consistent rebounder, while utilizing his athleticism and driving ability.
Unfortunately, there's been a setback for another young Warrior, James Wiseman. The second overall pick in the 2020 draft tore his Achilles in the Pacers' season opener, most likely sidelining him for the entire year. This is a tough blow for Wiseman, who will have missed two full seasons since being drafted. And at the end of this season, he will have only played in 148 out of a possible 410 games.
The start of the season has also brought some changes to the game itself. The number of fouls called per game has increased from 18.7 to 22, resulting in over five more free throws per game compared to last season. This was evident in the recent matchup between the 76ers and Raptors, where they combined for a whopping 99 foul shots. It's still too early to make any definitive conclusions, but it's something to keep an eye on.
With all that said, it's easy to get carried away with first-week overreactions. Some notable ones include the Celtics' Jayson Tatum potentially making an MVP run with his improved jumper, the 2025 Clippers pick becoming more valuable for the Thunder, Jordan Poole's resurgence, and even the possibility of LaMelo Ball turning it around this year. And let's not forget the Orlando Magic, who many are saying could be the Celtics' biggest threat in the East. Time will tell if these predictions hold true, but it's always fun to speculate.
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