Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh has a background with the Warriors, so he pounced on the opportunity to trade for Jonathan Kuminga, writes Angelina Martin of NBC Sports Bay Area. Before going to Atlanta, Saleh spent three years in Golden State’s front office, giving him a first-hand look at Kuminga’s potential.
“I was there for, I think, [Kuminga’s] first three years,” he said. “For us, [the trade] made sense given our timeline and what we’re trying to do. I think a 23-year-old with a ton of potential — I think the things that he helps us with are his rim pressure that he puts on. He’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s a good rebounder. I think in transition, he could be absolutely phenomenal, and he adds size at the wing position if we ever need to add another defender to guard one of these bigger wings in the league. So, I’m really excited about Jonathan.”
After years of looking for a fresh start, Kuminga finally got his wish on Thursday when the Hawks acquired him and Buddy Hield in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. Kuminga is currently dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee that will sideline him through the All-Star break, but the team is confident he’ll be able to produce when he returns.
Saleh also welcomes the outside shooting that Hield can provide and said his “hilarious” personality will be good to have in the locker room.
There’s more from Atlanta:
- Jock Landale made a strong impression in his debut with the Hawks, delivering 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in Thursday’s win over Utah. He was in Memphis when the trade was announced and turned down the team’s offer for a flight, opting to make the 5 1/2-hour drive to Atlanta instead, according to Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link). “I kind of said, if I’m looking to play that next night, I want to get there as soon as possible,” Landale said. “So loaded up the truck and hit the road.”
- The Hawks are sending $3MM to the Jazz in the Landale trade, reports Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). The cash amount wasn’t specified when the deal was announced.
- Onyeka Okongwu returned Saturday after missing four games with a dental fracture, per Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks (Twitter link). The only player remaining on the injured list for the contest was Kuminga.
- Prior to the game, Saleh spoke to the media about his strategy at the deadline, Rowland adds (Twitter link). “Everything is future forward,” he said. “We didn’t want the flexibility that we created at the start of the season to be impacted by the deadline, and we felt like we maintained that flexibility.” Saleh also talked about preserving “optionality” for the summer.
Atlanta seems to be acting a little frantic after moving Trae. You’d think that after accepting that Young playing elsewhere would be the most beneficial outcome for your team that you’d be willing to slow your roll a little.
I really wonder what Kuminga is asking for in an extension. I don’t think ATL would have traded for him if he wanted good money rather than long term security. Just weirds me out a little that we’ve heard nothing about that and the fact that JK openly said he didn’t picture himself as a Hawk.
I suppose the oft ill Tingus Pingus isn’t much of price to pay for a buy in but still an interesting gamble.
Huh? Why would he be asking for an extension? Has he even been to Atlanta since the trade? His contract doesn’t expire until after next season. I would think they would want to see how he fits before they make an offer.
Hey genius, hopes this helps as someone who is a Warriors homer –
JK signed a deal with the Warriors that included a player option for next year. Meaning that either Atlanta accepts the option and he becomes a free agent next season, or they decline his option and he becomes a free agent this offseason.
Now I’m not sure of you’ve been following the only relevant story to come out of GS for multiple seasons, but JK and his departure was largely due to his desire for a good contract and playing time. So one would assume that both of those items are still top priority for his camp.
Unless of course your thinking completely stops as soon as it has to do with someone not on the Warriors roster. I could see then how something so very simple and discussed for months could be seen as utterly confusing and unimportant.
Is Mercury in retrograde? Wtf is happening today
Um, nope. It is a team option. He wanted a player option and the Warriors refused to give it. That was the sticking point in the negotiations. They could decline it, and renegotiate.
I don’t think they’re being frantic at all. It was a great move for them. Why not take a chance at kuminga while moving off the Zinger. It’s very low risk high reward. I like what they’re doing over there.
There could be a couple of problems with their plan. Kuminga really didn’t like coming off the bench. And, he wanted to be the central focus of the offense. If he could accept not being those, he could be really good for them. It is up to him.