Warriors Trade Kuminga to Hawks, Leaving Nets Recalibrating at the Deadline
The Brooklyn Nets had their eyes on Jonathan Kuminga for months. The athletic, high-upside forward seemed like a natural fit for a team in transition-young, explosive, and still developing. But just days before the trade deadline, the Warriors pulled the plug on any potential Brooklyn deal, sending Kuminga and veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.
That move not only ends Golden State’s long-running saga with their 2021 lottery pick, it also reshapes the Nets’ trade deadline outlook in a big way.
Brooklyn had been circling Kuminga as a potential foundational piece, someone who could grow alongside their current core and help usher in the next era. Instead, he’s now headed to Atlanta, joining a Hawks team that’s suddenly looking more dangerous with the rise of first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson. In 20 games this season, Kuminga averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting just under 50% from the field-numbers that only hint at his upside when given a bigger role.
For the Nets, this is a missed opportunity, and it stings a bit more knowing that one of their potential trade partners just dealt a coveted asset to another team in the East. Brooklyn has been exploring options for Michael Porter Jr., who’s been the centerpiece of their offense this season, and Kuminga was believed to be one of the more intriguing returns in any hypothetical deal.
Now, with Kuminga off the board and Porzingis heading to the Bay to bolster the Warriors’ playoff push alongside Stephen Curry, Brooklyn is left reassessing its position. And the answer might be to simply stand pat.
Porter Jr. has been nothing short of electric in his first season with the Nets. He’s averaging 25.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while hitting nearly 39% of his shots from deep-on high volume, no less. That’s elite shot-making, and it’s come with a level of consistency and confidence that’s made him one of the league’s most reliable scoring wings.
With the trade market thinning and no clear blockbuster on the horizon, Brooklyn might be more inclined to ride out the rest of the season with Porter Jr. leading the charge. He’s not just putting up numbers-he’s keeping the fan base engaged, giving the Nets a nightly reason to tune in.
Of course, there’s always a chance a late-emerging suitor-perhaps a fringe contender like the Pistons-tries to make a splash before the buzzer. But as it stands, the writing seems to be on the wall: Michael Porter Jr. is likely staying in Brooklyn, at least for now.
The Nets may have missed out on Kuminga, but they’re not out of options. With Porter Jr. playing at an All-Star level and the team still holding valuable assets, Brooklyn’s bigger moves may come in the offseason. For now, it’s about maximizing what they’ve got-and that starts with one of the NBA’s most gifted scorers continuing to carry the load.