Jonathan Kuminga's Agent Explains How Forward Was Hawks' 'Best Player' After Warriors Trade

Jonathan Kuminga's agent made a bold claim about his client's performance with the Atlanta Hawks.

Aaron Turner said on the Kevin O'Connor Show that Kuminga was the Hawks' best player in the second half of the season, citing the forward's net rating.

"He was their best player from the moment he showed up in terms of winning impact," Turner said (9:40 mark). "He had the best on/off net rating in the regular season and in the playoffs."

While a player's net rating is a good way to gauge how much of an impact he makes, to say that Kuminga was the Hawks' best player after being traded from the Golden State Warriors might be a bit of a stretch.

He certainly made an impact off the bench, putting up 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game across 16 regular-season contests with the Hawks. He was even better in the postseason, averaging 13.7 points.

Still, most on the Hawks and those who went against them would likely point to a player like Jalen Johnson as the team's best player.

Turner's confidence in Kuminga is no surprise given that he's his agent, and it also explains his approach to the young player's free agency this offseason. Kuminga took longer than most to sign with a new team, and Turner was clearly eyeing a big contract.

Kuminga ultimately went with a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves that includes a player option for 2027-28. That deal is actually significantly less than the one he received from the Los Angeles Lakers, who offered him $12 million-plus annually over three years, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Turner explained after the signing that Kuminga viewed Minnesota as a better fit.

Kuminga will look to break into a star role with the Timberwolves, but the team is likely just expecting solid production around Anthony Edwards. That might not stop Turner from calling Kuminga Minnesota's best player, though.