Atlanta may lose Jonathan Kuminga for nothing this summer. The Kristaps Porziņģis trade was still the right process, and the Hawks don't need his contract.
The Atlanta Hawks traded big man Kristaps Porziņģis for wing Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield, and now, it looks like they may lose Kuminga in free agency.
That doesn't mean they should regret the Porziņģis trade.
That will feel counterintuitive for some. If they don't retain Kuminga, vicariously, they traded Porziņģis for a half-season rental and a bench shooter. He's an awfully good player to move for that.
Yet, it was still the right decision.
Hawks Were Wise to Move Porziņģis
Let's talk about the difference between process and results.
When the Hawks traded Porziņģis on Feb. 4, they weren't particularly competitive. He had appeared in 17 games for Atlanta, hadn't played since Jan. 7, and was on an expiring $30.7 million contract. His availability mitigated his trade value. So, moving him to take a flyer on Kuminga was smart.
Kuminga could have exploded. It's always possible that an underperforming young player will improve his stock in a new environment. That's not what happened, but you can't blame the Hawks for trying.
Interestingly, the Hawks got better after moving Porziņģis. There's no causal relationship there. This young team simply surged after the All-Star break. That's why it's now reasonable to ask whether they'd be better off with Porziņģis on the books.
So, let's talk about results.
The Hawks Don't Need Porziņģis' Contract
The Golden State Warriors extended Porziņģis this summer. He's making $20 million a year.
In theory, that's a great deal for Porziņģis. This is the original unicorn. Porziņģis is a 7-foot-2 combo big who can space the floor and protect the rim:
When he's available to play.
Last year, Porziņģis managed 32 games. He played 42 in 2024-25. In ten NBA seasons, Porziņģis has cleared 65 games just three times. Some of that is ordinary wear, and some of it is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, the condition that sidelined him for long stretches of his brief Atlanta tenure.
It's been said before that availability is the best ability. If Porziņģis can't get on the floor, why should the Hawks want to play him?
Besides, things are going swimmingly without him.
The Hawks Have a Bright Future
Let's say Kuminga walks. The Hawks have little to show for Porziņģis.
That's not the end of the world. They still have Hield, whose $9.6 million they guaranteed for next season, and they cleared a $30.7 million expiring off the books in the process.
This is a young, hyper-talented team. The Hawks were one of the best clubs in the NBA after last season's All-Star break, finishing 46-36 and taking the eventual champion New York Knicks to six games in the first round. They didn't need Porziņģis, and they likely don't need Kuminga either. Rival executives already see a roster built to consolidate into something bigger.
They will need cap space. Center Onyeka Okongwu and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker will both be in line for raises on their next deals. Kingston Flemings is on a rookie contract. Atlanta is already pressed against the luxury tax and the first apron. Granted, Porziņģis' extension would have run up before any of those players were due, but the broader point is that it behooves the Hawks to keep their books clean.
Porziņģis is a good player, but he's not necessarily someone a team should rely on. Given how strong the Hawks look, there's no reason to regret moving him:
No matter how the Kuminga situation shakes out.
