The Golden State Warriors traded forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for center Kristaps Porziņģis on Thursday, marking the end of Kuminga's five-year tenure with the team. The 23-year-old former lottery pick, a member of the 2022 NBA championship squad, had grown disgruntled with his role in Golden State. Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed regret over not supporting Kuminga more effectively during his time with the franchise.
The trade, finalized on February 6, 2026, during the NBA trade deadline, sent shockwaves through the league as the Warriors parted ways with Kuminga, selected seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. In 20 games this season, including 13 starts, Kuminga averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 23.8 minutes per game, shooting 45.4% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. Over his career with Golden State, he appeared in 278 games (97 starts), posting averages of 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Despite flashes of high-level talent, Kuminga struggled with consistency on a contending roster focused on winning championships, limiting his opportunities to develop.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed the move before a game against the Phoenix Suns, admitting, "I could have done a better job" in helping Kuminga transition to the NBA. "It’s been obviously a rocky road for him and for us," Kerr said. "I really want to see him succeed, and I’m sorry that it didn’t happen here. We all take ownership of that." Kerr highlighted the challenges Kuminga faced joining a championship-caliber team as a rookie with limited experience, noting, "Coming to a championship team his rookie year... that’s a tough thing to reconcile."
Veteran forward Draymond Green echoed Kerr's sentiments post-game, saying Kuminga now has a longer leash in Atlanta: "You come into this league, you have to make mistakes to learn. But when you’re with a group that’s trying to compete for championships, you don’t always get that leash."
For the Hawks, acquiring Kuminga represents a calculated risk. The 6-foot-7 forward has a team option for next season, allowing flexibility if he fits alongside their core. Atlanta general manager Onsi Saleh emphasized maintaining optionality, noting the deals avoid long-term bad money. Kuminga could thrive with more minutes, potentially averaging higher outputs as he did in starts (14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists in 28.4 minutes).
In return, the Warriors gain Porziņģis, a 30-year-old rim protector and three-point shooter who hasn't played since January 7 due to injury. Kerr praised his fit: "Legitimate 3-point shooter, rim protector—tough to find that combination." The team hopes Porziņģis can contribute soon, joining them in Los Angeles on Friday, though he won't play against the Lakers on Saturday. Golden State, now 27-24, aims for a playoff push with Stephen Curry's return and Porziņģis' addition, despite a lower ceiling without recent acquisitions like Jimmy Butler.
The deal ends the Warriors' 'two timelines' experiment, as other young prospects like James Wiseman and Moses Moody also underperformed expectations. Hawks coach Quin Snyder now integrates Kuminga, Hield, and Gabe Vincent into the rotation, with the team eyeing playoff contention while preserving future assets like their favorable 2026 draft pick.
