The Golden State Warriors are buying and selling Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday.
Kuminga’s time with the Warriors ends after 4½ tumultuous seasons that noticed the 23-year-old wing repeatedly fall out of Steve Kerr’s rotation. Drafted with the No. 7 choose in 2021, Kuminga flashed his potential as an athletic wing a number of instances all through his profession however by no means ended up meshing with the remainder of the roster on the court docket, notably after the commerce to amass Jimmy Butler final season.
After a contentious negotiation this previous summer season, Kuminga signed a two-year cope with a staff choice for $24 million subsequent season, that means he wasn’t eligible to be traded till Jan. 15.
Kuminga began the primary 12 video games of the season, however after the Warriors hit a skid, Kuminga was benched earlier than falling out of the rotation completely after 13 video games. He discovered enjoying time once more after the season-ending harm to Butler however was then sidelined himself with a knee harm.
Porzingis received off to a sizzling begin to the season, averaging 19.2 factors in his first 13 video games with the Hawks, who acquired the Latvian huge man in a commerce with the Boston Celtics within the offseason.
Nevertheless, his season was derailed by what the Hawks referred to as an sickness that sidelined him for many of December. Whereas on the Celtics final season, Porzingis was recognized with an autonomic nervous system dysfunction referred to as POTS that ended up severely limiting him within the playoffs.
Porzingis mentioned his medical doctors discovered options over the summer season to handle his heath and that he entered the season feeling good. He returned from his month-long absence on Dec. 31 however performed simply 4 video games earlier than sitting out once more for the following a number of weeks. He has not appeared in a sport since Jan. 7.
When wholesome, Porzingis is a high-end stretch-five and, at a towering 7-foot-2, can also be one of many league’s greatest rim protectors. He’s on an expiring deal and is ready to hit free company this summer season.
Kuminga has profession averages of 12.5 factors and 4.2 rebounds whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere.
