The Atlanta Hawks announced Saturday they plan to reevaluate newly acquired forward Jonathan Kuminga after the 2026 NBA All-Star break.
Kuminga has been sidelined since the Golden State Warriors’ 123-115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 22 after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee.
The 23-year-old was eager for a change of scenery and requested a trade from the Warriors ahead of the NBA trade deadline. He apparently didn’t envision a move to Atlanta, though. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson reported he was “shocked” about winding up on the Hawks.
They might at least see him as a long-term building block.
Atlanta isn’t outright tanking, but sending Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in what amounted to a salary dump signaled the franchise’s shifting priorities. Kuminga could slot nicely into a frontcourt that includes Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Zaccharie Risacher.
If the Hawks aren’t sold on him, the 6’7″ forward could do enough to impress another team ahead of the summer, when he’ll hit free agency if Atlanta declines his club option.
The knee injury obviously throws a wrench into those plans.
The Hawks’ first game after the All-Star break is Feb. 19 against the Philadelphia 76ers, so that’s the earliest Kuminga will see the court. Doctors may determine he needs extra time to recover once they evaluate him again.