Why Golden State Warriors youngster was ‘shocked’ by Klay Thompson’s departure

In a complex series of trades, the Philadelphia 76ers sent Buddy Hield and his three-year, $21 million contract to the Warriors. The Warriors also received Kyle Anderson on a three-year, $27 million contract.

The Charlotte Hornets acquired Josh Green, Reggie Jackson and two second-round picks from the Mavericks. The Minnesota Timberwolves will receive a second-round pick, a second-round pick swap and cash.

The Sixers received a second-round pick in exchange for Hield, while the Denver Nuggets received cash consideration. The unprecedented six-team trade highlights the complex nature of modern NBA roster management and the willingness of teams to collaborate to facilitate high-profile player transfers.

Golden State Warriors player Jonathan Kuminga reveals why he was shocked by Klay Thompson’s departure

Although the deal was announced several weeks ago, reactions to Thompson’s departure from the Warriors are still mixed. Among those people, Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga is featured in a piece by Tristi Rodriguez for NBC Sports.

“I was a little shocked. Klay is someone who took me under his wing when I first got drafted,” Kuminga told ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth during the Warriors’ NBA Summer League game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in Las Vegas.

“He was one of my role models when I was on the field. He was always explaining to me how the league worked and stuff like that. And obviously, we all know that in the league, the next day you can wake up and be somewhere else. Things move faster.”

After dealing with some serious injuries, Thompson managed to come back and help Golden State win its fourth title in less than a decade. Even so, the Splash Brother still regressed last season, averaging 17.9 points on 38 percent shooting from deep, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

After all, Thompson is now a Maverick while Kuminga will be playing for a Warriors team that is almost unrecognizable. In a few months, fans will be able to see how these two teams will perform on the court.