The Golden State Warriors have traded forward Jonathan Kuminga after years of holding onto him amid trade discussions and contract issues. On Wednesday, they sent the former No. 7 pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for injured center Kristaps Porzingis, who is on an expiring contract.
Warriors’ Long Wait for a Kuminga Trade
The Warriors hesitated to trade Kuminga, selected in the 2021 draft. For over two years, he expressed dissatisfaction with his playing time, yet the team did not move him during two trade deadlines. They retained him throughout extended contract negotiations last summer, eventually signing him to a two-year deal with a team option for 2026-27.
Kuminga often seemed a poor fit on a veteran team still in championship mode. Warriors players had urged then-GM Bob Myers to trade one of their lottery picks from 2021, with the other pick resulting in swingman Moses Moody.
The team remained firm on keeping Kuminga, even as his minutes decreased, partly due to difficulties pairing him with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. They even offered him a substantial contract, hoping to either later trade him for another high-salaried player or as part of a major deal, but interest from other teams was low.
Kuminga’s New Opportunity with the Hawks
This season, despite falling out of the Warriors’ rotation, Kuminga handled the situation calmly and expressed interest in being traded since he became eligible on January 15. He anticipated that the Warriors would either play him or trade him to a team that would utilize him.
The Atlanta Hawks present this opportunity, as they are a young team with a need for a backup forward behind All-Star Jalen Johnson and former top pick Zaccharie Risacher. Kuminga excels in transition, fitting well with the Hawks’ fast-paced style of play.
He will have 30 games, along with a potential playoff run to prove himself, before the Hawks decide on his $24.3 million option for 2026-27. With significant cap space cleared by trading Trae Young and Porzingis, the Hawks could offer Kuminga a long-term contract if he performs well.
For Kuminga, this trade marks a chance to move on from the Warriors, while the team may come to realize that they held on to him longer than necessary without achieving the desired outcome.