The Hawks like Jonathan Kuminga. If they didn't view him as an intriguing long-term piece, they wouldn't have made the bold move for him just before this year's trade deadline. Acquiring him did come with an insurance plan, though, as his contract was established to give Golden State a potential escape if things went south.
Atlanta now has that same escape, and it's unclear whether they'll use it or not this early into the offseason. When the postseason began, it appeared as if he wanted to leave no doubt regarding his future here. His presence off the bench gave the team an invaluable advantage. He certainly didn't finish strong, and now the front office has an impossible decision to make.
Kuminga's production dipped at the worst possible time
When Atlanta dropped Game One, they knew they were going to need much better performances from guys in the second unit if they wanted any chance at giving New York a good scare. Jonathan Kuminga understood what was at stake. He locked in, delivering consecutive dominant performances, leading to two crucial victories.
If this production was the least bit sustainable, who knows how the rest of the series would've transpired? The significant dip in bench impact was just one of the many problems Atlanta had in their final three games. Over those last three, Kuminga averaged just 11.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
JK WHAT are we pulling???
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) April 25, 2026
The results of the final three were embarrassing, to be completely honest. Atlanta was dominated from start to finish in each matchup. If they had any sort of boost from their bench, maybe one of them would've gone differently and Atlanta would've forced seven games.
The decision surrounding Kuminga was already going to be a tough one, but the way his production fell off a cliff as the series progressed makes it that much more difficult. Should Atlanta lock him up long-term, pick up his option for next year, or just let him walk?
This wide range of options is both a blessing and a curse
At the very least, fans won't have a moment to get bored as they wait for Hawks basketball to resume. The long offseason is just getting started, but this Kuminga saga will be interesting to follow closely. Expect the unexpected.
General Manager Onsi Saleh doesn't hesitate to make bold moves, and he has another opoortunity to do so this summer with his young forward. Kuminga is everything that he and Coach Snyder value at the forward position, so if he's bought into the direction and doesn't command too much yearly salary, he'll be right back here at the start of next season. It's certainly no guarantee, though.
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