The Atlanta Hawks got younger by acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, even without receiving draft capital in the deal that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Golden State Warriors.
The NBA trade market is always changing, but every so often, it circles back on itself.
It used to be far more common to see player-for-player swaps. Draft capital was rarely the centerpiece. Teams exchanged rotation players based on fit, timing, and need. In today’s NBA, draft equity dominates negotiations, often outweighing the value of the players themselves. Superstars are routinely moved for little more than contracts and future picks.
That’s what made the deadline-day deal between the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors feel like a throwback. Atlanta sent Kristaps Porziņģis to Golden State and received Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield in return — a clean exchange built around talent rather than draft leverage.
Whether it was the right move for Atlanta remains the central question.
Availability, as the saying goes, is the best ability. By that measure, the Hawks did well to extract meaningful value for Porziņģis at all. He has appeared in just 17 games this season, continuing a pattern that has followed him throughout his career. When healthy, Porziņģis remains an efficient, skilled big capable of stretching the floor and anchoring lineups. The problem has always been the gaps between those stretches.
Kuminga brings his own questions. He has played only 20 games this season and is currently sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee. His on-court production has been uneven, averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while posting a negative Box Plus/Minus, reflecting how his impact hasn’t consistently matched his physical tools.
Those tools, however, are exactly what Atlanta believes it can unlock.
Following the trade, Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh spoke candidly about his familiarity with Kuminga and why the organization felt confident making the move.
Saleh, who spent several seasons in Golden State’s front office during Kuminga’s early years, emphasized both the player’s profile and the Hawks’ broader timeline.
“Obviously, I know JK really well,” Saleh said. “I was there for, I think, [Kuminga’s] first three years. For us, [the trade] made sense given our timeline and what we’re trying to do. I think a 23-year-old with a ton of potential — I think the things that he helps us with are his rim pressure that he puts on. He’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s a good rebounder.”
Saleh continued by outlining how Kuminga fits stylistically with Atlanta’s roster and what the team envisions for his role.
“I think in transition, he could be absolutely phenomenal, and he adds size at the wing position if we ever need to add another defender to guard one of these bigger wings in the league,” Saleh said. “So, I’m really excited about Jonathan.”
Golden State was never an ideal developmental environment for a player like Kuminga. Drafted by a franchise firmly entrenched in championship pursuits, his margin for error was slim. Minutes fluctuated, roles shifted, and patience was limited on a roster built to win immediately. Kuminga often found himself stuck between needing experience and being unable to earn it consistently.
Atlanta offers a different setting. The Hawks are not tanking, but they are also not operating under the same nightly pressure as a title-or-bust contender. That breathing room could prove crucial for a player whose growth depends on repetition, confidence and clearly defined responsibilities.
Hield, meanwhile, provides a more immediate return. While his scoring role has diminished from earlier stops, he remains a respected shooter with deep-range gravity and playoff experience. Saleh also noted the off-court element Hield brings, describing his presence as “hilarious” and pointing to the value of his personality within the locker room.
The upside scenario is straightforward. If Atlanta can tap into Kuminga’s athletic ceiling and pair him with Jalen Johnson, the Hawks could emerge with one of the league’s more dynamic forward combinations — long, physical and versatile on both ends. If that development stalls, Atlanta has still converted an unreliable asset into two rotation pieces without sacrificing draft flexibility.
That balance between risk and reward defines the deal.
Grade: B