The Atlanta Hawks have made a savvy move by acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, and it’s already paying off. In his debut with the Hawks, Kuminga lit up the scoreboard with a season-high 27 points in just 24 minutes.
Coming off the bench for the injured Jalen Johnson, Kuminga was electric, hitting 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. His ability to score in transition and facilitate ball movement showed exactly why this trade could be a game-changer for Atlanta.
The Warriors had relegated Kuminga to the bench early in the season, which lowered his trade value. Golden State was initially hoping to leverage him for a high-caliber player, perhaps even someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo (though that was a long shot). Instead, they ended up trading Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis, who had been struggling with injuries and limited playtime.
For Atlanta, the decision to pivot to Kuminga was straightforward. Porziņģis had been sidelined with Achilles tendinitis and, with Trae Young also out, the Hawks needed to make a move. Kuminga, a young talent with potential, was a low-risk acquisition that has already started to win over fans.
Kuminga’s performance, even if it was just against the Wizards, is promising. He’ll have another opportunity to shine with Washington still in town and Johnson out.
Looking ahead, the Hawks will need to decide on Kuminga’s $24.3 million option this summer. If he continues to perform as he did in his debut, that decision might just be a no-brainer.
Even if the Hawks choose not to keep Kuminga long-term, they’re likely to get more value from him than they did from Porziņģis. This trade is shaping up to be a smart, strategic move for Atlanta, proving that sometimes the best opportunities come when you least expect them.