The Atlanta Hawks added one of the most recognizable names on the NBA trade market before the deadline.
Jonathan Kuminga's stint with the Golden State Warriors finally ended, giving the star forward a fresh start in Georgia. Unfortunately, the same injury that has kept him sidelined with the Warriors will continue to keep him off the court when the Hawks return from the All-Star break.
On Wednesday, the Hawks released a statement on Kuminga's status.
"Forward Jonathan Kuminga, who sustained a left knee bone bruise while playing for Golden State at Dallas on Jan. 22, is progressing in his rehabilitation. He will be re-evaluated in approximately one week, and an update will be provided at that time."
One week isn't too much longer, but Kuminga will still have to go through a clearance and reconditioning period in order to avoid further complications when he makes his Hawks debut.
This season hasn't gone as planned for Kuminga. The standout forward started the year with the Warriors, appearing in 13-straight games at first. Eventually, Kuminga was out of the Warriors' rotation.
Setbacks on the roster left Steve Kerr with no choice but to play Kuminga in late January. The veteran forward returned to the lineup on January 20 to take on the Toronto Raptors for a 21-minute shift.
Kuminga played again for nine minutes two nights later. It ended up being Kuminga's final game with the Warriors. He was sidelined for the next five games, tand hen he was traded to the Hawks.
The Hawks also landed Buddy Hield in the deal. In exchange, the Hawks sent Kristaps Porzingis to join the Warriors as their latest big addition at the deadline. Now, both parties part ways, putting an end to the Kuminga-Warriors saga.
Kuminga left the Warriors after five seasons. Over that time, he posted averages of 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. The veteran has averaged 45 percent from the field and knocked down 32 percent from three.
The Hawks return to the court on Thursday night to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Kuminga is guaranteed to miss the next four games. Beyond that, his status is unknown.
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