Hawks Decline Jonathan Kuminga's Option, Sending No. 7 Pick to Free Agency

Q: With both players now free agents, did the Warriors or Hawks actually win the Kuminga-Porzingis trade?

Neither side clearly won; at this point, the trade looks more like a wash, with a slight short-term edge to Golden State if it can re-sign Kristaps Porzingis. The Hawks have now declined Jonathan Kuminga’s $24.3 million option, turning a 23-year-old former No. 7 pick into an unrestricted free agent after just 36 games in Atlanta. Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists, but his run was uneven and interrupted by knee issues. Atlanta ultimately made the same judgment Golden State had been moving toward: his flashes of talent did not justify a major long-term commitment at that price. Golden State’s return was also limited. Porzingis gave the Warriors useful production when available, averaging roughly 16 to 17.5 points per game in a small sample and providing the floor spacing and rim protection they wanted. But injuries again defined his value; he played only a handful of games after the trade and is now also a free agent. So the trade did not produce a lasting asset for either team. Atlanta gave up Porzingis and got only a brief, inconclusive look at Kuminga before letting him walk. Golden State got the better on-court fit in the short term, but not enough availability to call it a decisive win. If Porzingis returns to the Warriors on a team-friendly short deal, Golden State can still salvage more value from the move. If he leaves too, the trade will be remembered as largely neutral, with both teams moving on quickly from the players they acquired.

Q: Once seeking $25M annually, what is a former top pick with elite athletic traits truly worth now?

Jonathan Kuminga’s market looks much closer to about $9 million to $12 million per year than the $25 million annually he once sought. That gap is reflected most clearly in Atlanta’s decision to decline his $24.3 million team option and let him become an unrestricted free agent. John Hollinger’s BORD$ model pegs Kuminga at $9.4 million annually, valuing him more like a high-end reserve than a core starter. That is the strongest outside benchmark in the available reporting. The case for a lower number is straightforward. Kuminga is still only 23 and remains an elite athlete who can finish in transition, rebound well, and flash defensive impact. In 36 games with the Hawks, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.3 percent. Teammates and coach Quin Snyder reportedly saw useful two-way tools. But the concerns that followed him from Golden State remain unresolved. His perimeter shooting, halfcourt decision-making, shot selection and overall feel have limited his role. He also dealt with knee issues in Atlanta, and his production has come in uneven stretches rather than sustained starter-level impact. That leaves Kuminga as a classic upside bet: young enough to justify a short-term gamble, but not productive enough to command star money. A realistic deal now would likely be a shorter contract at the midlevel-to-low-teens range annually, with incentives or team protection, unless a team believes it can unlock more than either the Warriors or Hawks did.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 29

Atlanta declined Jonathan Kuminga's team option before Monday's deadline, ending his stint with the Hawks and making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Kuminga arrived in Atlanta at last season's trade deadline in the deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State, but his stay proved brief.
The 2021 No. 7 overall pick had already pushed for a move after being largely sidelined with the Warriors and appeared in only 20 games for the franchise last season.
The decision closes a turbulent chapter for Kuminga, who now heads back to the market after short runs with both Golden State and Atlanta.