New NBA Rumors Reveal Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3M Contract Option Decision Made by Hawks Ahead of FA

The Atlanta Hawks are declining their $24.3 million club option for forward Jonathan Kuminga, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

ESPN's Marc J. Spears reported the Sacramento Kings are expected to be among Kuminga's suitors.

The decision isn't a complete shock when the Hawks already have a payroll of $153.1 million before accounting for any salary cap holds. Removing Kuminga from the books for 2026-27 was a straightforward way for general manager Onsi Saleh to create some flexibility.

Kuminga's performance following his midseason trade didn't help, either.

The 23-year-old had quite the debut with Atlanta. In a 119-98 win over the Washington Wizards on Feb. 24, he finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

He had another 20-point outing less than a week later, leading some fans to already wonder whether the Golden State Warrriors and coach Steve Kerr had held him back.

Ultimately, though, Kuminga's production didn't change that much after his trade.

In 16 games with at Atlanta, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. Across five seasons in Golden State, his scoring average was almost exactly the same (12.5 points), and it was a wash in terms of his efficiency (50.3 percent overall and 33.1 percent on threes).

The Hawks' first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks underlined why Kuminga had been pushed to the periphery on the Warriors as well. He went 5-of-24 from beyond the arc and had as many turnovers as assists (six) in the series.

Kuminga's 40 combined points were crucial in Atlanta winning Games 2 and 3, but he followed that with three straight forgettable performances. In a sense, it was a perfect outcome because the pro- and anti-Kuminga factions each had evidence to bolster their arguments.

The 6'7" forward showed flashes that lead you to believe he can reach another level when afforded more time to acclimate to the Hawks. The more critical assessment is that he's now approaching his sixth season in the NBA and hasn't yet merited the kind of role he thinks he should occupy.

Kuminga will now hit the open market for the second successive summer. At least this time around, he won't be handcuffed by restricted free agency. He's free to pursue the best possible deal.

As much as Kuminga will prefer to get long-term security, signing another shorter contract might be in his interest. His earning power will be far stronger in another year or two if he can finally make a breakthrough on the court.