Kuminga's restricted free agency with the Warriors remains unresolved as talks extend into September. Golden State has floated a three-year, 75.2 million contract with a team option in year three, while Kuminga pursues potential control via a team option or a one-year qualifying offer.

Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green reached out to Kuminga, offering mentorship and signaling how veteran influence could shape his decision. Golden State is also linked to veteran targets like Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, Seth Curry and Gary Payton II as it waits to finalize Kuminga before expanding the roster. Training camp begins Sept 29 with a Oct 5 preseason vs. the Lakers.

Lakers No. 9 threads a long, dynamic lineage. Jim Chones arrived in 1979 to shore up the frontcourt and help LA capture the 1980 title, posting 10.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in two seasons. A 1981 swap sent Chones to Washington Bullets as compensation when Mitch Kupchak signed with LA, reshaping the No. 9 legacy. Chones finished in Washington and later broadcast Cavaliers games, keeping the thread alive from Detroit Gems to Showtime.

From the Gems’ NBL roots to Minneapolis and onward, the No. 9 arc illustrates how one digit can echo through eras: frontcourt fits, championship runs, and rosters reshaped by trades and signings that ripple through fantasy value across generations.