The Jonathan Kuminga saga has officially come to a close. After five years of inconsistent playing time, publicly calling out Head Coach Steve Kerr, and shaky contract negotiations, Kuminga will join fellow-draftee Jalen Johnson in Atlanta.
That’s not the interesting part, though NBA fans worldwide can celebrate knowing that they’ll never have to read another Kuminga trade report again—at least for the meantime. What’s more fascinating is the player Golden State got in return: 2024 NBA Champion Kristaps Porzingis.
Before Jimmy Butler’s midseason ACL tear, the team already had complications stemming from the lack of a true third option. Brandon Podziemski and Moses Moody are solid rotation players, but neither has proven the ability to consistently create his own shot when both Curry and Butler are off the floor. So with Butler leaving the picture, the team was likely a play-in exit.
In theory, KP is the perfect fit for a Warriors roster devoid of scoring talent outside of Steph Curry. He’s a career 19.6 ppg scorer, and his 36.6 3P% helps address the spacing issues associated with Draymond Green. There’s a reason why center Quentin Post (37.5 3P%) has been a regular starter for this team, and Porzingis is better in virtually every way. Defensively, his 7’2 frame adds a real element of shot blocking that the team hasn’t had since JaVale McGee. The issue, then, comes from his inability to stay on the floor. The big man has always had durability issues, most recently an Achilles tendon injury, that has caused him to hit the 60-game mark only three times in his 10-year career. However, since last season, he’s also suffered from POTS, a chronic autonomic disease resulting in an increased heartbeat when standing. Rick Celebrini is renowned as one of the best medical directors in professional sports, but POTS is frankly not a normal sports injury.
Besides, even if Porzingis can suit up for games, the Warriors are simply not talented enough to compete with teams like OKC, Denver, or San Antonio. The recent play of forward Gui Santos and guard Pat Spencer make the Warriors more competent, but it’s hard to win much of anything when you have a $54 million hole in your roster. This season is a punt at best.
The reality of this deal is a low-risk swing for 2026-27. Porzingis has an expiring contract for $30.7 million. If he stays healthy for the post-All-Star break stretch, the Warriors can re-sign the 30-year-old big man on a smaller deal. If not, the Warriors have the cap flexibility to retain free agent combo guard De’Anthony Melton and make a bigger swing for a star in the offseason. Since the Giannis trade faltered, the Warriors kept hold of their future first-round picks, swaps, and young players.
In the twilight years of Stephen Curry’s prime, accepting this season as a scheduled letdown is difficult. However, if the Warriors can be competent for the first half of the 2026-27 season, if Jimmy Butler can still play at a high level when he returns, and if—just if—Kristaps Porzingis can stay healthy, the path to championship contention stays open for at least one more year. Let the ifs align for ring number 5.