When it comes to Jonathan Kuminga, some recent Atlanta Hawks jersey news may add to the belief that the forward is headed elsewhere.
In the NBA offseason, virtually anything can be interpreted as a clue with regard to players or teams making moves.
And in the case of free agent Jonathan Kuminga, some recent Atlanta Hawks jersey news may add to the belief that the forward is headed elsewhere.
Hawks newcomer Lu Dort, who the team acquired in a trade earlier this summer, will wear No. 0 with Atlanta, according to Etienne Catalan on X. That is the number Kuminga wore with the Hawks last season after coming over from the Golden State Warriors.
Dort's No. 0 is also now listed on the team website. The wing wore No. 5 during his entire tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kuminga is currently a free agent, which may be the only explanation required to justify the Hawks' decision to give No. 0 to Dort. But the door hasn't been totally shut on Kuminga returning to the team, which makes the number news somewhat notable.
If Kuminga does end up back in a Hawks uniform in the 2026-27 season, he will need to pick some new digits. With the Warriors, he wore No. 00 before switching to No. 1. He could theoretically return to No. 00 if he were to re-sign with the Hawks, even with Dort wearing No. 0.
But fans probably shouldn't be holding their breath about a reunion. Atlanta declined Kuminga's option at the start of the offseason to make him a free agent, and he has since attracted interest from a number of teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
All in all, the saga has moved along at a very slow pace, even though there was some talk that a resolution might've temporarily been close earlier this month. If the former lottery pick does end up moving on from the Hawks, there is still a chance that he and Atlanta will need each other's help to make it happen in a sign-and-trade scenario.
Kuminga is a player who hasn't totally lived up to expectations at the NBA level but has shown that he certainly is serviceable. Last season, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep. He has averaged as many as 16.1 points per game at the NBA level.
Wherever he lands, he will look to sustain the production he has shown while also tapping into some more of the potential that made him the No. 7 overall pick several years back.
