Hawks Prefer Draft Assets Over Additional Players in Potential Jonathan Kuminga Sign-and-Trade
The Atlanta Hawks may still have a role to play in determining Jonathan Kuminga’s next destination as teams explore possible sign-and-trade scenarios for the young forward.
Several potential deals have been discussed that would send draft picks or other assets to Atlanta as part of a Kuminga sign-and-trade. While acquiring draft capital could be attractive to the Hawks, there is one complication: the team reportedly has little interest in taking on additional players.
According to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, Atlanta “does not really want more players,” which could make negotiations more difficult for teams trying to acquire Kuminga.
The Hawks are already above the roster limit and will have to make moves before the regular season begins. Adding another player through a sign-and-trade would only create another roster issue, so Atlanta’s preference for draft compensation makes sense.
From the Hawks’ perspective, getting something in return for Kuminga would be a positive outcome. Since he is an unrestricted free agent, Atlanta has limited leverage, meaning the team shouldn’t expect a significant haul. Still, turning the situation into future draft assets would be preferable to losing him without receiving anything.
Atlanta acquired Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors last season but declined his team option during the offseason, allowing him to enter free agency. At this point, a return to the Hawks on a new contract doesn’t appear particularly likely.
Kuminga was productive in a reserve role after joining Atlanta. He averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists across 16 regular-season games. He also averaged 13.7 points during Atlanta’s only playoff series.
Although the 23-year-old provided useful production, it apparently wasn’t enough for Atlanta to justify retaining him under his option. Kuminga also hasn’t consistently reached the level many expected from the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Still, his age gives him plenty of time to develop. A fresh start could potentially help him unlock the potential that made him a highly regarded prospect coming out of the draft. The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have both been mentioned as possible destinations and could provide him with meaningful opportunities.
For now, the Hawks need to remain involved and monitor the situation closely. If a sign-and-trade ultimately materializes, Atlanta will want to make sure it walks away with valuable assets rather than simply adding another player to an already crowded roster.
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