The Golden State Warriors have made a significant decision by trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for seasoned center Kristaps Porzingis, according to sources within the league reported by ESPN.
This trade seems to signal a definitive conclusion to the Warriors’ attempts to acquire superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Over the past week, the Warriors submitted multiple offers, but reports indicate that they learned during the last 24 hours that the Milwaukee Bucks are unlikely to part ways with Antetokounmpo before the trade deadline. This realization prompted the Warriors to shift their focus to other strategies.
For Kuminga, this marks an end to a tumultuous five-year journey with the Warriors, providing him with a new opportunity in Atlanta. For Golden State, bringing in Porzingis offers them a versatile veteran center on an expiring contract worth $30.7 million, ideally suited to enhance their lineup—provided he remains in good health.
Porzingis has been on the Warriors' radar since his playoff performances with the Boston Celtics, as the team has long sought a center capable of defending the rim while also being a threat beyond the arc. They believe that pairing Porzingis with Draymond Green would be beneficial, particularly now that they intend to retain Green despite earlier discussions about potential trades involving him.
However, there are concerns regarding Porzingis’ availability. He has struggled with a complicated illness known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, along with various injuries, limiting his appearances to just 17 games for the Hawks this season, following a mere 42 games in his last season with the Celtics.
The Warriors are optimistic about having Porzingis return to the court healthy and effective as they aim for a strong finish to the season, currently sitting at 27 wins and 24 losses, placing them eighth in the Western Conference.
From the perspective of the Atlanta Hawks, acquiring Kuminga represents a gamble on a young player with considerable potential, secured under a manageable contract. Although he struggled to find a consistent role in head coach Steve Kerr's rotation, Kuminga posted an average of 12.5 points per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 50.3% across his 278 games with the Warriors. He also has a team option valued at $24.3 million for the upcoming season.
In addition to this major trade, the Warriors have also dealt backup center Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2026, further reshaping their roster.
