Hawks Let Jonathan Kuminga Walk. The $24 Million Gamble Backfired.

The Atlanta Hawks have officially declined Jonathan Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season, making the 22-year-old an unrestricted free agent. NBA insider Chris Haynes broke the news, and the decision doesn’t come as a total shock — but it still stings for a team that traded for him with clear plans.

Kuminga was acquired by Atlanta in a deadline deal with the Golden State Warriors. The Hawks gave up De’Andre Hunter to get him, and the assumption was they’d at least pick up that option to see what they had. Instead, they’re letting him hit the open market before he ever really got going in a Hawks uniform.

So what went wrong?

It’s not that Kuminga is a bad player. He’s young, athletic, and has shown flashes of being a legit two-way forward. But the Hawks didn’t see enough during his limited run with the team to justify locking in that $24.3 million. Maybe they didn’t love the fit next to Trae Young. Maybe they think they can get similar production for cheaper. Or maybe they just want the roster flexibility.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Kuminga averaged 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in Atlanta across roughly 20 games. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but they’re not $24 million-a-year numbers either. Not for a team that’s already got salary cap concerns and is trying to figure out its identity in a crowded Eastern Conference.

The Hawks have been doing a lot of roster reshuffling lately. They traded Clint Capela. They let Dejounte Murray go. They’re clearly trying to build around Young and their young core without tying up money in guys who might not fit the long-term vision.

Kuminga now becomes one of the more interesting names in free agency. He still has upside — that’s not really in question. But the league will now decide if that upside is worth the kind of money Atlanta was unwilling to pay.

What’s Next for Both Sides?

For Kuminga, this is actually kind of liberating. He can pick his next team instead of being pigeonholed into a situation where the Hawks held his rights. Expect a handful of teams with cap space — or willing to use an exception — to come calling. He’s young enough that a smart team could try to sign him to a shorter prove-it deal or even a longer contract at a friendlier number.

For Atlanta, the decision clears a path to pursue other options. Maybe they target a veteran wing. Maybe they use that money to lock in somebody else. But it also raises questions about just how much faith the front office has in some of its recent acquisitions. If you trade a guy like Hunter for Kuminga and let him walk months later, that’s a bit of an awkward look.

The Hawks have not commented publicly on the reasoning. But the NBA rumor mill is already spinning on potential landing spots for Kuminga. More details will surface as free agency officially opens.