The Golden State Warriors completed a trade sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, ending the long-running Kuminga saga, sources confirmed. The deal did not include draft picks and gives the Warriors a potential centerpiece for their 2026 offseason strategy.
Porzingis, who has missed 35 of Atlanta’s 52 games this season including the last 13 with an Achilles injury, averages 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 24.3 minutes. Sources told Sam Amick of The Athletic that the trade’s focus was not on Porzingis’ production but on his availability and fit, noting his combination of three-point shooting and rim protection remains rare in the NBA.
Amick reported that while Golden State appears to have stepped back from pursuing Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the door is not fully closed. “Team sources would not close the door completely on the pursuit,” he wrote Thursday. The Warriors had submitted an offer including Draymond Green, Kuminga, four first-round picks, a first-round swap, and salary to match, but communication from Milwaukee stalled in recent days.
The Kuminga trade provides the Warriors with salary flexibility, as Porzingis carries an expiring $30.7 million contract. Hield, who still has two years remaining on a deal with a $10 million player option in 2027-28, moves to Atlanta along with Kuminga, who signed a two-year $48.5 million extension last September.
Golden State has now also traded big man Trayce Jackson-Davis to Toronto for a 2026 second-round pick, further clearing roster space. The moves come as the Warriors sit 27-24, eighth in the Western Conference, and search for roster upgrades to pair with Stephen Curry, their two-time MVP averaging 27.2 points on 46.8 percent shooting this season.
Porzingis’ injury history remains a question mark, but his skill set allows Golden State to utilize him in pick-and-pop situations while anchoring the rim defensively. The Warriors’ thinking, according to Amick, is that Milwaukee may hold onto Antetokounmpo until the offseason, giving Golden State a chance to re-enter the conversation with a revised offer.
Sources indicated that the Kuminga move largely takes Golden State out of immediate Giannis discussions, though league insiders continue to monitor the situation. The trade also marks a new chapter for Porzingis, who joins a team capable of contending in the playoffs if he remains healthy and integrates quickly under Steve Kerr’s system.
