Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield reportedly traded to Hawks as Warriors get Kristaps Porzingis

The Golden State Warriors have reportedly found their go-to guy by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks. In the deal, the Warriors sent forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield to Atlanta, according to AP. The trade has not yet been approved by the NBA. The move also gives Kuminga what he wanted: a fresh start with another team. Kuminga did not play in Tuesday night’s 113–94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers because of a bone bruise in his left knee. It was his fifth straight missed game.

Meanwhile, Porzingis was listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz due to an illness. He has also recently missed time with an Achilles tendon injury. Porzingis, nicknamed 'The Unicorn', is averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. The Warriors will be the sixth team of his 10-year NBA career.

Earlier this season, Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke openly with Kuminga about being out of the rotation for more than a month and the likelihood that he would be traded. However, on Jan. 20, general manager Mike Dunleavy said there was no clear sign at the time that other teams were strongly interested in Kuminga, despite his trade request.


Kerr denied that any personal issues between him and Kuminga caused the situation. Kuminga, who is 23 and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was the Warriors’ seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. This season, he played in 20 games, starting 13, and averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

Kuminga signed a two-year contract on September 30 that could be worth up to $46.5 million if the team option for the 2026-27 season is picked up. Last season, despite missing time with an ankle injury, he averaged 15.3 points per game and had strong playoff performances, including a career-high 30 points in one game.