In terms of the potential Phoenix Suns players who got away, Jonathan Kuminga surely ranks near the top of that list.

A well documented and heavily rumored pursuit of the former Golden State Warrior coming to an end when he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks at the deadline.

Kuminga’s blistering debut proves Suns can now spot talent

Making his debut off the bench in a handy win over the Washington Wizards, Kuminga had a team high 27 points in only 24 minutes of action. He looked like the perfect Suns player in the process.

With the Suns having been hit hard by injuries, seeing an athletic forward who can make a difference on both ends of the court when engaged was tough to take.

Jonathan Kuminga SHINES in Hawks debut 🔥

27 points
9-12 shooting
3-4 from deep
7 rebounds
4 assists
2 steals pic.twitter.com/Qg1WOObVad

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2026

It’s not all bad however, and if anything seeing how right the Suns were about pushing hard for Kuminga only proves how much their front office has improved at identifying talent.

Already this season they’re getting career years out of Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen (from an offensive responsibility perspective at least), but they aren’t even the hidden gems they’ve unearthed.

Both Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea, cast away by so many teams prior to landing in The Valley, becoming key parts of the second unit.

The fact Goodwin’s calf strain has hit the franchise so hard tells you how important he has become, yet any team could have had him before the Suns brought him back for a second time.

Taking a swing on center Mark Williams was risky, but again that has paid off in a big way as he is the best big man in Phoenix since Deandre Ayton’s 2021 NBA Finals run.

Even trading away Kevin Durant for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green looks defensible at this point, an unthinkable stance to take prior to the season beginning.

So while Kuminga got away, other front offices are going to have to be wary when dealing with the Suns in future. Even their three rookies this season look like they could one day help the team.

About the only drawback here are second year players Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, neither of which having progressed the way the Suns would have liked.

But it has become obvious that the organization has a front office and scouting department that are on the same page, and an owner in Mat Ishbia who is willing to back them financially to get back to the top.