The Atlanta Hawks took a calculated swing when they acquired Kristaps Porzingis last offseason. On paper, it made a lot of sense.
Porzingis brought the size, spacing, and scoring punch the team had been missing. He was the kind of floor-stretching big who could unlock new dimensions for Atlanta’s offense.
But the gamble was always going to come with risk - and right now, that risk is catching up with them.
Porzingis has long been one of the league’s most tantalizing yet fragile stars. His injury history is well-documented, and his availability has been a consistent concern throughout his career.
In two seasons with Boston, he logged just 36.8% of possible minutes. He missed roughly 40% of games and averaged under 30 minutes per appearance when he did suit up.
And then came last season’s curveball: a diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a rare condition that affects blood flow and can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and other complications.
To his credit, Porzingis attacked the offseason with optimism. With a diagnosis in hand and a summer of treatment and conditioning behind him, he looked like a new man during EuroBasket play.
He even managed to play in a back-to-back - something he hadn’t done in the NBA since January 2024. That momentum carried into the start of this season, where he played in 9 of Atlanta’s first 12 games, including two back-to-backs.
For a brief moment, it felt like the Hawks had a healthy Porzingis and a real shot at making noise in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
But that window didn’t stay open for long. Since then, Porzingis has appeared in just 8 of the last 35 games - a paltry 22.9% - sidelined by illness and now Achilles tendonitis. The optimism has faded, and the reality is hard to ignore: Porzingis, as talented as he is, can no longer be counted on as a consistent contributor.
So where does that leave Atlanta?
The good news is the Hawks didn’t mortgage their future to bring him in. Yes, a first-round pick was part of the transaction, but that pick ultimately went to Brooklyn as part of a separate move involving Terance Mann’s contract. From a value standpoint, Porzingis was essentially acquired for free.
But that also speaks to the market’s view of him. If no team was willing to offer more last summer - before this latest stretch of missed games - it’s unlikely the Hawks can expect much of a return now.
What they do have, however, is an expiring $30 million contract. And in the NBA, that kind of salary slot can be a powerful tool.
Porzingis’s deal could function like a trade exception - a way to bring in a player on a large expiring contract without compromising long-term flexibility. That’s been a key theme for general manager Onsi Saleh: maintaining optionality. Any move would need to preserve cap space and roster flexibility beyond this season.
One potential fit? Jusuf Nurkic.
The Bosnian big man isn’t a perfect player - he struggles defending in space - but he’s a physical presence in the paint and a reliable rebounder. He’d bring a level of stability to the center position that the Hawks desperately need.
Nurkic isn’t flashy, but he’s the kind of dependable interior body who can anchor a second unit or step in as a spot starter.
Another intriguing option is Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors have reportedly been open to moving the athletic forward, and while his development has been uneven, the tools are there.
Kuminga brings size, bounce, and defensive potential to a Hawks wing rotation that’s been sorely lacking in mobility. He’s still just 21, and a change of scenery could unlock something.
Even if Atlanta doesn’t view him as a long-term piece, he could be a worthwhile flyer on an expiring deal.
If the Hawks are feeling a bit bolder, they could take a look at Cam Thomas. The scoring guard is one of the league’s most fearless shot-makers - and one of its most polarizing.
He can fill it up in a hurry, but he doesn’t offer much else and isn’t known for his passing or defense. Still, in terms of pure offensive upside, he might bring more to the table than Porzingis at this point.
And if you're choosing between Thomas and, say, a veteran like CJ McCollum - who’s owed big money going forward - Thomas offers at least a glimmer of future value without the long-term financial commitment.
None of these moves are slam dunks. But the Hawks are in a position where they need to make something out of a tough situation.
Porzingis isn’t helping them on the court, and his contract expires soon. That makes now the time to explore creative ways to flip his deal into a player who can contribute - or at the very least, give the team a different look.
The Hawks aren’t out of options. But if they want to stay competitive in a crowded East, they’ll need to get proactive. Porzingis may not be the answer anymore, but his contract might still help them find one.