The decision to draft Kuminga over Wagner, who has averaged at least 20 points per game the past three seasons, became a central tension point across the organization, a signature example of Lacob's personnel meddling in the post-Kevin Durant transition years, aiming for, as team sources said, style over the substance that made the dynasty teams hum. In the seasons that followed, team sources theorized that Lacob's outward public belief in Kuminga and his animated celebrations of Kuminga's big moments stemmed from his desire to be proved correct in his original assessment. It's also why, those sources believed, Lacob had a difficult time sending out Kuminga in potential trades.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The decision to draft Kuminga over Wagner, who has …