Warriors' extended Jonathan Kuminga saga ends with a thud

The Golden State Warriors resisted trading forward Jonathan Kuminga for years, through trade demands and contract standoffs. On Wednesday, they finally moved the former No. 7 pick for an injured center on an expiring contract.

Golden State got Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kuminga and Buddy Hield. For Kuminga, he finally gets a fresh start away from the Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr. For the Warriors, they get an oft-injured 30-year-old center in Porzingis who has missed all but 17 games this season.

Warriors waited for a Jonathan Kuminga return that never came

The Warriors waited a long time to trade Kuminga, who was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft. Kuminga had been unhappy with his playing time for over two years, but the Warriors let two trade deadlines pass without moving Kuminga. Then they held onto him during protracted contract negotiations when Kuminga was a restricted free agent last summer, ultimately giving him a two-year contract with a team option for 2026-27.

Kuminga was always somewhat out of place as a young, unpolished forward with potential on a veteran-laden team still trying to compete for titles. Warriors veterans lobbied then-GM Bob Myers to trade one of their two 2021 lottery picks, the other becoming swingman Moses Moody.

But the team stubbornly held onto Kuminga, even as his playing time dwindled, as Kerr found it difficult to pair him with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. It even signed Kuminga to a large contract, in hopes of flipping it for another high-salaried player or as part of a blockbuster deal. The interest among the rest of the NBA simply was not there.

Jonathan Kuminga will get a chance with Hawks

Kuminga hasn't been disruptive this season despite falling out of the rotation, aside from making it clear he was interested in being traded once he became eligible on Jan. 15. He reasonably hoped that the Warriors would either play him or trade him to a team that would.

That team appears to be the Atlanta Hawks, a young and athletic team that has a clear need for a backup forward behind All-Star Jalen Johnson and former top pick Zaccharie Risacher. Kuminga thrives in transition, running the floor and attacking the rim, and the Hawks play at the NBA's second-fastest pace.

He'll have 30 games and a potential playoff run before the Hawks have to decide on his $24.3M option for 2026-27. After clearing substantial cap space by trading Trae Young and Porzingis, the Hawks could also sign Kuminga to a long-term deal if he's a fit.

For Kuminga, the prize is finally escaping the Warriors. For the Warriors, they held onto Kuminga much longer than they should have, and their prize never came.