Jonathan Kuminga’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors finally came to an end on Wednesday night.
The seven-time NBA champions traded Kuminga, along with Buddy Hield, to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis in a move that’s received mixed reviews.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson, the Warriors' decision to trade Kuminga to the Hawks was shocking to the 6-foot-7 NBA champion.
“As for the Jonathan Kuminga side of last night's trade, sources say he was ‘shocked’ to be sent to the Atlanta Hawks,” Johnson wrote on X/Twitter shortly after the trade.
“The Hawks aren't a team that his camp kept contact with and Atlanta was an ‘out of left field’ destination. Fresh start feels good for both sides.”
The Sacramento Kings were deemed an ideal landing spot for Kuminga since the start of the 2025 offseason. After all, multiple reports indicated that the Sacramento Kings had expressed interest in the former lottery pick on the trade market.
Obviously, the two sides were unable to reach a deal that worked for everyone, forcing the Warriors to go in a different direction. With the Hawks, Kuminga should get an opportunity to showcase his skill set in an expanded offensive role on a rebuilding Eastern Conference squad.
Kuminga averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with the Warriors this season, shooting 45.4% from the field and 32.1% from beyond the arc.
Parting ways with Kuminga is one of the wisest things the Warriors could do before this year’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.
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