In a new mock draft published to FanSided.com, NBA Draft analyst Christopher Kline projected that the Atlanta Hawks—via the New Orleans Pelicans—will win the lottery and select AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. It'd be a potentially colossal development, as Dybantsa is widely praised as a potential franchise-level talent and scorer.
If the Hawks truly experience a lottery-night miracle, however, going on to select Dybantsa would likely also lead to parting ways with Jonathan Kuminga.
Drafting Dybantsa would mean defining the future of the forward positions in Atlanta. Dybantsa would slot in at small forward, with franchise player Jalen Johnson playing the 4. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu would likely continue to start alongside them.
That would still leave space for Kuminga to return for the 2026-27 campaign and rebuild his reputation as the sixth man for a playoff team, but the long-term ramifications could be dire.
Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors ultimately split due to the two sides not seeing eye to eye on his ideal role. He wanted a chance to develop in a high-usage environment, while the Warriors preferred to keep him in more of a complementary situation.
Perhaps Kuminga would ultimately be open to developing as the sixth man in 2026-27, but it'd be difficult to envision him returning beyond that season if the Hawks draft Dybantsa.
Drafting AJ Dybantsa would likely signal end of Jonathan Kuminga's Hawks tenure
Dybantsa isn't just a promising young talent, but one of the most gifted scorers to emerge from the collegiate ranks in recent memory. In 2025-26, he became the third freshman in NCAA Division I history to win the scoring title, averaging 25.5 points per game on .510/.331/.774 shooting.
A 6'9" wing with the explosive athleticism and three-level scoring potential to develop into a go-to player in the NBA, Dybantsa would be a dream pick for the Hawks.
There would still be space for more experienced players to provide a likely stronger sense of consistency than a first-year player on a team with immediate ambition. That's where Kuminga comes in with his career average of 20.2 points per 36 minutes.
There's simply no way around how risky it would be to have Kuminga realize elements of his potential with the Hawks during the 2026-27 season.
For one, Atlanta can't afford to have a disgruntled player asking for a bigger role when they're just now establishing the team's new identity. Furthermore, Kuminga has a club option for the 2026-27 campaign that would make him an unrestricted free agent the following summer.
Thus, the question would beckon if Dybantsa does in fact join the Hawks: Would it be worth bringing Kuminga back for one season or would it be better to simply cut ties?