Jonathan Kuminga's return looms, offering the Hawks a potential starting forward boost and an exciting glimpse of his impact alongside Jalen Johnson.
When the Atlanta Hawks traded for Jonathan Kuminga before the NBA trade deadline, it was expected that he'd be able to join the team post-All-Star break, as many Hawks fans, and well, Atlanta's front office and coaching staff, want to see what impact he can have on this current roster.
However, he's been dealing with a left knee bone bruise, and on Monday, the Hawks released the injury report for Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards, and it's good news for Hawks fans.
On the official injury report, Jonathan Kuminga has been upgraded to questionable with that left knee bone bruise.
Whether or not he plays Tuesday versus Washington, Jonathan Kuminga's entrance into the Hawks rotation is imminent, and that should leave Atlanta fans excited.
With Quin Snyder's recent move to take a struggling Zaccharie Risacher out of the starting lineup, Kuminga could be an option for another forward in the Hawks' starting five. One of the biggest storylines for when he joins this Hawks lineup is how he will play alongside Jalen Johnson.
Atlanta will likely have to see what he brings to the court first, however, as Kuminga has played in just 20 games this season.
As for the rest of the Hawks' injury report, it's a great sign that no other names have popped up, because the Hawks just played three games in five days fresh out of the All-Star break, and need everyone to be fully healthy down the stretch of the season.
In those 20 games this season, Kuminga has averaged 12.1 points per game on 45% shooting.
It will likely be announced tomorrow if Kuminga will be on the court for the Hawks' matchup with the Wizards.
CJ McCollum has been a real bright spot in the scoring department for the Atlanta Hawks in recent games, but Kuminga will bring another element to this Hawks team. His size should help with spacing, and hopefully, he still can create his own shot, as Atlanta has several players in its current lineup that struggle with playmaking.
Kuminga is still just 23 years of age, and how he plays down the stretch will be a big factor if Hawks' GM Onsi Saleh decides to keep him around.