The Warriors are shaking things up, agreeing to send Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania.
There are no draft picks involved, making it a clean, straight-up player swap, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
The deal closes the book on Kuminga’s long, often uneasy run with Golden State. There were flashes. Plenty of athleticism. But there was also frustration, largely tied to inconsistent minutes and never fully locking down a starting role across five seasons.
Kuminga explored an exit during restricted free agency last summer, only to find the market colder than expected. No offer sheets came. The Warriors quickly shut down sign-and-trade discussions.
Eventually, Kuminga agreed to return on a short-term arrangement, accepting a $22.5 million salary for this season with a $24.3 million team option for 2026-27. That option now belongs to Atlanta.
Interest around the league picked up in recent weeks, but Golden State wasn’t eager to take back long-term money. Instead, the Warriors land Porzingis, whose $30.7 million expiring deal preserves flexibility heading into the offseason.
They’ve had the 30-year-old on their radar for roughly two months, viewing him as a potential stretch-five fit. Health remains the question.
Porzingis has appeared in just 17 games this season and is currently sidelined with an illness. Still, he’s a career 36.6 percent shooter from three and played a key role on Boston’s title team two years ago.
Hield gives Atlanta another proven perimeter shooter, particularly after moving Vit Krejci earlier this week. His contract for next season is only lightly guaranteed, giving the Hawks options.
According to cap analyst Yossi Gozlan, Atlanta could even clear significant cap space by waiving both players, or use Kuminga’s non-Bird rights to pursue a long-term extension.
One other ripple effect? Moving Kuminga likely ends Golden State’s pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo before the deadline.
Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports Kuminga was central to the Warriors’ pitch, and once Milwaukee made it clear that framework wasn’t moving the needle, Golden State pivoted. Porzingis became the play.
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