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This series of articles takes five shots at predicting trades that will go down at the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline. The first one addresses the Jonathan Kuminga situation and how the Atlanta Hawks could take a swing at the distressed wing.
ATL Gets:
Jonathan Kuminga
2028 GSW Swap
GSW Gets:
All three of the players in this trade are getting little to no run right now.
Jonathan Kuminga is a nightly DNP because of the well-documented issues between him, Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors organization as a whole. Buddy Hield is a sharpshooter who hasn’t shot well this season. And Kristaps Porzingis has been dealing with a mysterious yet serious illness all season, and was just recently diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis.
So if this trade takes place, no one is sacrificing any current production.
Why Trading for Porzingis Works for the Warriors
The Warriors, more than anything right now, need size — they definitely get that in Porzingis. Golden State has leaned into the use of Quinten Post much more than they probably would have liked to up until this point; that’s not because Post is a particularly awesome player, but because a stretch big at the center position pairs well with Draymond Green and the rest of their scheme. That line of thinking is also likely why they brought Al Horford in this past offseason.
So, upgrading Post to NBA Champion Porzingis would greatly help their chances of performing well in the playoffs this season. The risk here, obviously, is his injury history. But if all the Warriors are giving up is Kuminga and Hield, who don’t play anyway, then the team can carry on as is, let Porzingis get fully healthy, and incorporate him slowly before the playoffs.
With his contract expiring after this season, if his health problems persist, they can just free up their cap sheet for the offseason and they’re rid of Hield and the Kuminga mess. If he works out, they can re-sign him to a short contract. That flexibility and the way in which Porzingis can raise Golden State’s ceiling is worth a swap down the line.
Why Trading for Kuminga Works for the Hawks
Kristaps Porzingis is a good player, but he hasn’t been healthy for Atlanta. Jonathan Kuminga would enter the fray for the Hawks extremely hungry, ready to contribute and, most importantly, healthy.
Kuminga’s biggest flaw (aside from his off-the-court issues) is his shooting. That’s not something Atlanta lacks at all. Adding Hield into the mix, who, again, is having a down year but is a traditionally good three-point shooter, they would have four shoot-first wings (Corey Kispert, Vit Krejci, Luke Kennard) to mask that flaw of Kuminga’s.
Atlanta right now is moving towards a quick rebuild. They just traded out Trae Young, and it’s no secret that they’re drooling over the Pelicans’ pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Kuminga is much more aligned with their future timeline than Porzingis, who isn’t that old per se, but based on his health concerns and size, maybe has less years left in his NBA career than his age would suggest.
The Hawks aren’t playing well right now, but don’t get any worse today by making this trade. They get to buy low on Kuminga and get a potentially prime swap just to let go of Porzingis. There’s a decent chance that this trade looks unbelievably good for Atlanta in three years.
Why This Trade Wouldn’t Happen
Porzingis’ injury history is not only lengthy but particularly murky as of late. The Warriors giving up a swap and Kuminga, who may or may not be worth some draft capital, for someone who could see very little playing time for the rest of the season is a big risk.
Kuminga is talented, but he is open about how he wants a starting spot and a big role. Atlanta might have too much going on as is to want to welcome that into the building. The Hawks also already have frontcourt depth issues; getting rid of their best frontcourt player, who has played well when available, might not be in their best interest.