The Atlanta Hawks are betting on upside, and they’re doing it with a familiar face. General Manager Onsi Saleh didn’t just sign off on bringing in Jonathan Kuminga - he knows the 23-year-old forward inside and out from their shared time in Golden State. And if you listen to Saleh, it’s clear he believes Kuminga’s best basketball is still ahead of him - this time, in a Hawks uniform.
“Obviously, I know JK really well,” Saleh told reporters Saturday, shortly after Atlanta finalized a deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors in exchange for Kuminga and veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield. Saleh’s connection to Kuminga goes back to his own rise through the Warriors’ front office, where he spent three seasons in various strategy and legal roles. He was there when Golden State drafted Kuminga seventh overall in 2021, and he watched closely as the young wing tried to carve out a role on a team built around championship expectations.
Now, the Hawks are giving Kuminga something he never truly had in the Bay: room to grow.
“For us, [the trade] made sense given our timeline and what we're trying to do,” Saleh said. “I think a 23-year-old with a ton of potential - I think the things that he helps us with are his rim pressure that he puts on.
He's a phenomenal athlete. He's a good rebounder.
I think in transition, he could be absolutely phenomenal, and he adds size at the wing position if we ever need to add another defender to guard one of these bigger wings in the league.”
That’s the kind of toolset that had scouts buzzing when Kuminga entered the league. He’s long, explosive, and plays with a physical edge that jumps off the screen.
But in Golden State, playing behind veterans and in a system built around Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, Kuminga never got the consistent touches or developmental leash that many top-10 picks receive. His flashes were real - bursts of athleticism, defensive versatility, and downhill force - but the fit wasn’t always seamless.
Atlanta, though, is clearly ready to turn those flashes into something more permanent. The team is in a different phase of its build, one that aligns more naturally with Kuminga’s stage of development. And with Saleh in the front office, there’s a level of familiarity and trust that could help unlock what’s been waiting to break out.
The Hawks didn’t just bring in youth, though. Hield, one of the league’s most consistent perimeter shooters, adds a veteran presence and some much-needed spacing.
Saleh called him “hilarious,” noting the value he brings to the locker room beyond just his three-point stroke. It’s a smart balance - a high-upside young player in Kuminga, paired with a proven contributor in Hield.
But make no mistake, this deal is about Kuminga and what he can become in a new environment. The Hawks are giving him the opportunity Golden State couldn’t, and Saleh - who’s seen his journey from the start - is clearly betting big on what comes next.
If Kuminga hits, Atlanta just added a dynamic two-way wing with elite athleticism, positional size, and the kind of ceiling that can change the trajectory of a franchise. That’s the kind of swing you take when you believe the timeline and the talent finally match up.