Last month you would’ve argued the Golden State Warriors were winners of February’s mid-season trade centered around Kristaps Porzingis and Jonathan Kuminga, but another illness for the veteran big man has the deal emerging as a genuine lose-lose for they and the Atlanta Hawks.
Of the three players involved in the trade — Porzingis, Kuminga and Buddy Hield — the Latvian is the only player still with the team they were dealt to. However, that’s not much benefit to the Warriors if Porzingis isn’t actually playing which appears to be the case entering the new season.
Kuminga-Porzingis trade emerging as genuine lose-lose
Porzingis will return to the Golden State facility for assessment on Tuesday, having been away from the team through the entirety of training camp and preseason to this point. The former All-Star is all but set to miss opening night though, and quite clearly there’s ongoing concern over his availability given this has been a recurring issue over the past 18-24 months.
The Warriors gave Porzingis a two-year, $40 million extension prior to free agency, and the early returns (or lack thereof) thus far would suggest they’re fortunate that he agreed for only $3 million of the second-year to be guaranteed, allowing the front office to waive the 31-year-old next summer if the illness issues continue.
The Hawks, meanwhile, declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option for this season, pushing him into free agency where the former seventh overall pick had to settle for a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kuminga effectively wound up as a short three month rental for Atlanta. The 24-year-old had an impact in a strong end of the season for the Hawks and even came up big early in their first round series against the New York Knicks, but quite clearly won’t make the long-term impact the Hawks might have envisioned when they made the trade.
Warriors and Hawks can still find value from February trade
Golden State will hope that Porzingis can eventually get over the illness that’s derailed his career over the past 18 months, but this latest concern would have to paint a fairly pessimistic outlook particularly when there seems to be so much uncertainty coming from the franchise.
Atlanta can also find value still through Dorian Finney-Smith, having used Hield’s contract as part of a package to acquire the veteran forward in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets just before training camp.
This doesn’t change the current outlook where both teams, as things stand right now, would likely sit back with some disappointment over how things have transpired eight months on from their trade dealings at the deadline.
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