Kuminga ignites, changing game plans. Plus, how Hield's contract decision impacts Atlanta's playoff push.
The Atlanta Hawks' season is at a crossroads as they enter Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers at 30-31, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference and squarely on the bubble of the play-in tournament.
Hosts Grant Afseth and TJ French used the latest episode of the Hawks Roundtable Podcast to break down what Atlanta's three-game winning streak revealed, what Jonathan Kuminga's arrival means, and why the Buddy Hield situation deserves more attention than it has received.
Kuminga wasted no time making his presence felt after arriving from Golden State. In his debut, he scored 27 points in just 24 minutes off the bench against Washington, shooting 75.0% from the floor and from three. Two nights later, stepping into the starting lineup with Jalen Johnson sidelined by a left hip flexor injury, Kuminga posted 17 points and nine rebounds while continuing to shoot efficiently.
Afseth noted the debut defied easy explanation.
"He managed to still put up more points than minutes," Afseth said. "He gave Hawks fans a lot of reasons for excitement."
French went further, arguing the trade is already tilting in Atlanta's favor.
"If Kuminga is going to provide these strong scoring outputs each and every game like he has the first two," French said, "then the Hawks are in a good position."
The two discussed how Kuminga's athleticism and wing rebounding fit naturally alongside a roster built around pace and versatility, and what his pairing with Johnson could look like once the All-Star forward returns. That combination, they argued, gives Atlanta a forward tandem capable of creating real matchup problems for play-in opponents.
CJ McCollum has averaged 18.6 points per game since arriving in the Trae Young trade and has earned a place in Atlanta's late-game closing rotation alongside Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Corey Kispert added to the bench's offensive case last week, erupting for a career-high 33 points on six three-pointers against his former Washington teammates.
The podcast devoted considerable time to Hield, who has appeared in just one game since being acquired — logging five minutes — despite Atlanta playing in several blowouts where additional rotation players typically see the floor. With the March 1 buyout deadline arriving, Afseth broke down the financial details of a contract situation he believes has been widely underestimated.
"There are conditions where people may have overlooked Buddy Hield as a viable potential buyout candidate," Afseth said. "It really depends on what the marketplace looks like and how much guaranteed money is at stake."
Only $3 million of Hield's salary for next season is guaranteed before it fully vests the day after the 2026 NBA Draft, giving both the player and the franchise meaningful leverage. Afseth noted Atlanta could also pursue the stretch provision to minimize future cap impact if Hield remains on the roster beyond this season.
Looming over all of it is a pivotal three-game stretch against Portland, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. The Bucks remain without Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid is expected to miss at least several games for Philadelphia, potentially including the Atlanta matchup. French said the opportunity in front of this team is real.
"These next 10 will be really important," French said, "for building a little bit of cushion and staying in that play-in range."
With six of Atlanta's next seven games scheduled at home and the Hawks' first-round pick conveying to New Orleans, the front office has every incentive to push for wins. A team that looked unsettled just weeks ago has quietly reloaded, and according to Afseth and French, may be more dangerous now than at any point this season.
The Hawks Roundtable Podcast releases new episodes weekly throughout the NBA season. Full coverage is available at Roundtable.io and on the Roundtable app.