The Atlanta Hawks have until June 29 to decide whether or not they'll be accepting the $24.3 million club option that will decide Jonathan Kuminga's future. If they accept, Kuminga will be back for the 2026-27 season and enter unrestricted free agency in 2027. If they decline it, then he'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Though the Hawks have much to consider, the right pick at the 2026 NBA Draft could give them the opportunity they need to press pause on a long-term commitment to Kuminga.
Kuminga and whomever the Hawks select at No. 8 overall would conceivably contribute to the same goal of finding the missing piece for the current starting lineup. As it stands, the quartet of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu are all but locked in as starters.
The elusive question is who will develop into the fifth starter, with Kuminga and 2024 No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher commonly viewed as long-term options.
That's where making the right selection at the 2026 NBA Draft could come into play. It's entirely possible that Atlanta could opt to replace one of their current starters if they find them to be insufficient, but if the selection adds to an already strong core four, then re-signing Kuminga won't be quite as pressing of a need.
Instead, the Hawks could move forward with full confidence in their ability to field a team that's capable of competing in the present and thus patiently evaluate how Kuminga fits.
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Atlanta's options at No. 8 will border on boundless, with compelling prospects at every position on the court. In terms of how they could justify not committing to a long-term deal with Kuminga, however, it's a matter of plugging in a pivotal hole.
The Hawks have a tremendous starting five, but the 2026 NBA Playoffs revealed how important it is for them to find shooting and shot creation.
With this in mind, Atlanta could potentially target wings such as Cameron Carr or Keaton Wagler, or guards such as Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown, or LaBaron Philon Jr. Each player would give the Hawks an opportunity to plug an up-and-comer into the role CJ McCollum carved out in 2025-26.
If Atlanta manages to re-sign McCollum, it could gain even more leverage in conversations with Kuminga due to the presence of a volume scoring veteran and their long-term replacement.
None of this is meant to suggest that Kuminga shouldn't return, of course, as his upside and fit seem to be legitimate. He played multiple full fourth quarters during the Hawks' first-round series in the playoffs and showed flashes of brilliance on both ends of the floor.
Considering Kuminga has played just 28 games with the Hawks between the regular season and playoffs, however, the NBA Draft may provide the opportunity Atlanta needs to learn more before making a major financial commitment.
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