In the high-stakes chess game of the NBA Draft, one move can alter the trajectory of a franchise for years. For the Golden State Warriors, the 2021 NBA Draft was a pivotal moment that could have reshaped their roster—and their future. Instead, a single pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder set off a chain reaction, leaving the Warriors grappling with a contractual mess centered around Jonathan Kuminga and dreaming of what might have been with Josh Giddey.
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer in the latest newsletter from The Stein Line, the Warriors had their sights set on Australian guard Josh Giddey with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Giddey, a playmaking prodigy with a knack for threading passes through impossible angles, was seen as a perfect fit to complement Golden State’s motion-heavy, Steph Curry-led offense. But the Thunder, picking one spot earlier at No. 6, swooped in and snagged Giddey, forcing the Warriors to pivot to Congolese forward Jonathan Kuminga.
At the time, the selections made sense for both teams. The Thunder, in the midst of a full-scale rebuild, were stockpiling young talent to build around their budding superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Giddey’s scoring potential and vision seemed like a natural addition to their roster. The Warriors, fresh off an injury-plagued season, were doubling down on their “Two Timelines” strategy—balancing their championship core of Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson with young, athletic prospects like Kuminga, who promised dynamic scoring and versatility.
But as the years unfolded, the ripple effects of that draft night decision revealed a starkly different reality.
Josh Giddey’s time in Oklahoma City started with promise. His court vision and ability to orchestrate an offense made him a fan favorite, and his 6’8” frame offered tantalizing potential as a jumbo playmaker. However, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed into one of the NBA’s premier scorers, Giddey’s role became less defined. His scoring took a backseat, and his defensive limitations clashed with the Thunder’s aspirations as a championship contender. By last offseason, Oklahoma City made the bold move to trade Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in a straight swap for defensive stalwart Alex Caruso.
Now in Chicago, Giddey faces a new challenge: proving his worth as he negotiates a long-term contract. The Bulls, like the Thunder before them, see his value as a facilitator but question whether he’s worth the premium his camp might demand on the open market.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga’s journey with the Warriors has been a rollercoaster of unfulfilled potential. The athletic forward burst onto the scene with highlight-reel dunks and flashes of offensive brilliance, but his development has hit a wall. Head coach Steve Kerr has consistently demanded more defensive intensity and hustle—qualities that could have cemented Kuminga as a cornerstone of Golden State’s future. Instead, Kuminga has struggled to earn Kerr’s trust, languishing on the bench in key moments and failing to secure a consistent role in the Warriors’ rotation.
Now, four years into his career, Kuminga finds himself in a contractual standoff with the Warriors. His representation is pushing for a lucrative extension, but Golden State’s front office appears hesitant, wary of committing long-term to a player who hasn’t fully adapted to their system. The tension has strained the relationship, with trust eroding between Kuminga and the organization.
Imagine a world where the Thunder selected Kuminga at No. 6, and the Warriors landed Giddey at No. 7. For Oklahoma City, Kuminga’s raw athleticism and scoring ability could have thrived alongside their young core. With a long runway to develop, he might have grown into a versatile two-way threat, complementing Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren on a championship-contending roster.
For the Warriors, Giddey could have been a revelation. His playmaking would have meshed seamlessly with Golden State’s free-flowing offense, allowing him to develop his ball-handling and decision-making in the shadow of Curry’s gravitational pull. Giddey’s ability to create for others could have eased the burden on Curry and Green, potentially extending the Warriors’ championship window.
Instead, both players find themselves at a crossroads, their futures uncertain as they navigate contract negotiations with teams questioning their long-term value.
The Warriors’ current predicament with Kuminga is as much a product of their own missteps as it is the Thunder’s draft-night heist. Repeated benchings, inconsistent minutes, and a lack of clear communication have frayed the relationship between Kuminga and the organization. The Warriors’ “Two Timelines” experiment, once hailed as a bold strategy, now feels like a gamble that misfired. Kuminga’s potential remains undeniable, but his inability to fully integrate into Kerr’s system has left Golden State in a bind.
Now, an unexpected twist has emerged: a potential sign-and-trade swap between Kuminga and Giddey, as reported by Fischer. The irony is palpable. The Warriors, who once coveted Giddey, could finally acquire him—albeit at the cost of the player they settled for in his place. For the Bulls, Kuminga could offer the scoring punch they’ve lacked, while the Warriors would gain a facilitator to bolster their second unit.
The 2021 NBA Draft serves as a stark reminder of how thin the margins are in the NBA. One pick, one decision, can reshape a franchise’s future. For the Warriors, the Thunder’s selection of Josh Giddey set off a domino effect that has left them mired in uncertainty with Jonathan Kuminga. As Golden State navigates this contractual quagmire, they’re left to wonder: what could have been if they’d landed their original target?