NBA Trade Deadline: Kristaps Porzingis Joins Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield
Golden State closes the Kuminga chapter by landing Kristaps Porzingis in a major pre-deadline deal.
Dec 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis (8) reacts after a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The End of a Tumultuous Relationship Between Kuminga and the Warriors
A long-running storyline in Golden State has reached its conclusion. The Warriors have traded Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis, according to ESPN. The reshuffling continued shortly after, with Golden State Warriors sending Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a 2026 second-round pick originally belonging to the Los Angeles Lakers.
A Gamble on Porzingis’s Health for Golden State
The relationship between Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors has been uneven for several seasons. Selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, the 23-year-old forward never secured a consistent role in Steve Kerr’s rotation. This season followed a familiar pattern: Kuminga opened the year as a starter, shifted to the bench in November, and eventually fell out of the rotation entirely for more than a month.
Frustrations over playing time had been simmering since January 2024 and came to a head this summer amid tense contract negotiations. Kuminga ultimately agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million deal with a team option, a resolution that felt more like a truce than a long-term commitment. Once eligible to be moved, the forward formally requested a trade on January 15, 2026.
BREAKING: The Golden State Warriors are trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eqNWwCupEZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026
By landing Kristaps Porzingis, the Warriors are leaning into a familiar archetype for their system: a 7-foot-2 center who can protect the rim while spacing the floor from three. The 30-year-old Latvian is averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season, shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc.
The concern, as always, is availability. Porzingis has appeared in just 17 of Atlanta’s 52 games, sidelined by a mix of injuries and illness. The 2024 NBA champion has been dealing with POTS, an autonomic nervous system disorder that also affected him during last year’s playoffs. He has not played since January 7 and is set to hit free agency this summer, making the move a short-term, calculated risk for Golden State.
Kristaps PORZINGIS
Position(s): Power Forward / Center
Height: 218 cm
Age: 30 years (08/02/1995)
Nationality:
2025-2026 Stats / NBA
PTS
17.1
#72
REB
5.1
#117
AST
2.8
#137
The deal also seems to end Golden State’s pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Warriors had explored that avenue for weeks, but any serious offer for the Bucks star was built around Jonathan Kuminga. For Atlanta, the additions of Kuminga and Buddy Hield introduce new offensive options, though how those moves affect Zaccharie Risacherr’s role and minutes remains an open question.
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