Jonathan Cumminga, Kristaps Porzingis trade marks for Warriors-Hawks deal

The The Jonathan Cumminga saga in Golden State is finally over.

The Warriors trade Cummings and keep Buddy Hield for Atlanta Hawks for stretching large Kristaps Porzingisas first reported by ESPN.

The workout marks the end of a tumultuous and difficult five years between Golden State and the 23-year-old forward. Disagreements over playing time and the role of the 2022 No. 7 overall pick on coach Steve Kerr’s roster marred much of his time in the Bay Area, leading to anger and frustration on both sides.

And after heated contract negotiations last summer that only heightened tensions between his camp and the organization, things seemed to cool down as Kuminga found himself in Kerr’s starting lineup, with steady minutes and vet support.

But as all things happened with Kuminga and the Warriors, the situation collapsed. The Warriors began to lose, and Kuminga’s play became the scapegoat in their attempts to solve their woes. His playing time dwindled, injuries cropped up, and the situation eventually turned into a young forward catching DNP-CD.

There has been speculation that Kuminga will stay with the Warriors if their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo fails. However, with this trade coming on the eve of the deadline, it is clear that the discomfort in the purgatory that both sides found themselves in could not last.

Evaluating the Warriors trade ahead of the deadline

Warriors receive: Kristaps Porzingis

Jonathan Kurmara, Buddy Hield

From a basketball perspective, the Warriors have done well. In theory.

Porzingis represents the type of player Golden State has been looking for for a long time – a top five who can shoot and defend at a high level. In 17 games with the Hawks this season, Porzingis is averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 36.0% from 3-point range.

At his best, Porzingis is a dynamic big man who fits nicely next to Draymond Green (if the Dubs keep him past the deadline), whose offense has cratered as age catches up with him. Those few appearances for the Boston Celtics’ gentlemen’s offense against the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals is the best case scenario for the Warriors. A seven-footer who protects the rim and shoots 3-pointers who can change a game in a matter of minutes.

But notice the word “several” and notice how the Celtics’ championship was two years ago. Porzingis has been plagued by injuries and illness since Boston won the title, keeping his playing time on the court short. Since the 2024 championship, Porzingis has played just 59 games. Almost everything in his legs, from hamstring and knee injuries to quads, ankles and calves, plus a mystery illness in the 2025 playoffs, has forced him to miss time.

As tempting as the best-case scenario is, the worst-case scenario is a player whose health issues prevent him from helping this middling Warriors team on the brink of collapse following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending injury.

Still, the Porzingis risk is, for the most part, safe. Kuminga was giving Golden State nothing with his DNP-CDs and quiet frequent injuries. And while Kerr praised Hield’s presence in the locker room, his shooting numbers have dipped this season. Hield is shooting a career-high 34.4% from the arc, for a career-low 8.0 points per game. Even if Porzingis ends up a dud, that’s roughly equivalent to what the Warriors got from Kuminga and Hield.

It’s also important to point out that Porzingis’ $30 million salary expires after this season. That gives Golden State some wiggle room to make a move in free agency if it doesn’t work out.

This trade signals that the Warriors are out of the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, given how vital Kuminga was to that trade scenario. But based on the reports, it seems so The Warriors weren’t close to a deal with the Buckshence the pivot to avenues like Porzingis.

Overall, it’s a solid trade for the Warriors with high upside. Could they have gotten more for Kuminga if they had sold him earlier? Probably. And perhaps from a broader perspective, it’s an underwhelming move that doesn’t solve their plight. Some would even say an admission of defeat on multiple levels, from an asset management standpoint, from a Steph Curry final years standpoint, and from a dual timeline failure standpoint.

But this at least gives them something to work with now if Porzingis can stay healthy.

Trade Grade: B-

Evaluation of the Jastrebov side

For the Hawks, they’re turning Porzingis’ $30 million at the expiration into a chance to see Cummings up close and personal. The rest of this season will be an assessment of how the young, intriguing power forward fits into their core alongside future star Jaylen Johnson. However, on paper it doesn’t look like a perfect fit for Cummings and the Hawks.

Kuminga is a ball-dominant forward whose greatest strength is the pressure he exerts on the rim. His defense comes and goes, and so does his rebounding. Alongside a wing like Johnson, who also needs the ball to operate and would benefit more from being surrounded by shooting, it makes for an awkward fit.

But from a glass-half-full perspective, the Hawks could use another ball-dominant player who can create his own offense. Other than Johnson, Atlanta has a solid secondary that lacks that ability. At best, Kuminga becomes a 1-2 switch hitter for Johnson, easing his load. And they certainly get a motivated Cummings, a player who has been dying for a change of scenery and a place where he will have a runway to prove his worth.

The Hawks wouldn’t have made this trade if they were willing to give him minutes. How those minutes shake, we will find out. All in all, it’s a good acquisition for a jittery young asset that they can cut bait on at any time. Kuminga has a team option this summer that would allow the Hawks to either cut his $23.4 million in full, extend him a reasonable contract given the control they have over him, or pick up his team option and use the salary in a trade for something big.

It’s a good flyer with little risk.

Trade grade: B+