Finally, Jonathan Kuminga has a landing spot.
The 23-year-old forward, who split last season between the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks, is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year, $13 million deal. After all the movement around him, that number says plenty: Atlanta was never really in the mix to bring him back.
The Hawks had already stacked the deck at forward before Kuminga’s new deal came together. Their summer started with the first trade of the offseason, bringing in Aaron Wiggins from Oklahoma City.
That move didn’t change their stance on Kuminga, and neither did the 2026 NBA Draft, when they took a point guard and two centers. One of those centers, Zuby Ejiofor, could even get a look at a forward rotation spot.
Then came the Lu Dort acquisition at the end of summer league, and that was the real sign the door was closing. With Wiggins, Dort, Ejiofor and Asa Newell already in the second unit, adding Kuminga would have crowded the room beyond reason.
The roster math mattered too. Atlanta is already at 17 players, two over the limit, and still has to trim two before the season starts.
If Kuminga had been added, that number would have climbed to three players needing to go. It was possible, but the Hawks were clearly done making that kind of calculation.
For Kuminga, the move gives him a fresh chance to push his value higher before his next trip to free agency. Minnesota fits what he can bring: pace, energy and two-way upside.
And while the Hawks have moved on, Kuminga’s finish to last season shouldn’t be brushed aside. He handled his role with Atlanta’s bench unit and still looks like a player with a very promising future ahead of him.
In Other News...
Hawks Guard Battle Could Shape Atlantas Backcourt Plans
The Hawks added more layers to their backcourt this offseason by bringing in guards Devin Carter and Ryan Nembhard after drafting Kingston Flemings, giving the coaching staff a chance to sort through a deeper rotation than they had before. Both newcomers arrive with distinct selling points, with Nembhard bringing playmaking and Carter offering defensive grit, and that contrast is exactly what makes the next few weeks matter in camp.
With roster spots at a premium, Atlanta now has to see which guard better complements its needs heading into the season. The evaluation will not just be about talent, but about fit, and the staffs read on those two players could help shape how the Hawks build out the rest of the backcourt. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Face One Big Question In Proposed Blazers Wing Swap
Shaedon Sharpes injury has quickly shifted the conversation around Portlands future plans, and Atlanta has found itself mentioned in the middle of it. With the Trail Blazers weighing roster and salary flexibility, one proposed route would give the Hawks another young wing to evaluate while Portland resets around a different kind of asset, a move that has naturally drawn attention around both teams.
Jonathan Kumingas contract situation only adds another layer to the idea, since he is also looking for a new deal and brings a different financial wrinkle than Sharpe. For Atlanta, the question is whether a swap built around upside and team control makes sense enough to move conversations forward, or whether the fit is more of a concept than something either side is ready to turn into an actual transaction. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks May Have A Trade Path Out Of Their Roster Crunch
The Hawks offseason squeeze has left them in an awkward spot, with a crowded roster and little room to maneuver as they try to keep flexibility for the months ahead. One speculative fix now circulating is a four-team trade involving Atlanta, Washington, Houston and Sacramento, the kind of deal that would shuffle players and draft assets around in hopes of easing the logjam without forcing the Hawks to stand pat.
What makes the idea worth watching is how neatly it could solve more than one problem at once. In this framework, Atlanta would not just be trimming excess bodies, but doing so in a way that preserves financial breathing room and gives the front office a cleaner path forward, even if the exact names in the proposal are still only part of a hypothetical construction. [Read more 🡒]