The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga endured two uncomfortable years before finally parting ways at the February trade deadline, with Kuminga heading to Atlanta in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis. The move gave Kuminga, 23, something he never quite had in Golden State under Steve Kerr: a clear role, consistent minutes, and a franchise that needed him to be a cornerstone rather than a complementary piece. His ranking among the top 70 free agents this summer hinges entirely on what Atlanta saw over those final two months.

The Atlanta Hawks hold a $24.3 million team option on Kuminga. That is a significant number for a player still finding his footing after a fractured relationship with his previous franchise, but the option is priced relative to what Kuminga was when the Warriors signed his extension — not what he is now. A late-season and playoff showing against the New York Knicks helped restore some of the luster that had been dulled by his time on Golden State’s bench. The Hawks appear inclined to exercise the option.

CJ McCollum is the other major Atlanta free agent to address. The veteran guard, turning 35 before next season, averaged 18.7 points across 76 games split between Washington and Atlanta this year, shooting 37.5 percent from three. McCollum is not the player he was at his Portland peak, but he is still a high-volume, reliable scorer who can lead an offense when the primary creator is limited. His first-round performance against New York — where he gave the Knicks genuine problems in the early games — was a reminder of how difficult he is to guard one-on-one.

Gabe Vincent, acquired from the Lakers before the deadline, finished the season shooting 30 percent from three in Atlanta after posting 36.9 percent in Los Angeles. The fit was imperfect, and at this stage of his career, Vincent is a minimum-contract depth piece rather than a rotation cornerstone. The Hawks will almost certainly not bring him back on more than a minimum deal.

Atlanta’s broader offseason picture is one of transition. The Darius Garland trade that kickstarted the franchise’s younger direction, combined with Bennedict Mathurin’s arrival from Indiana via the Ivica Zubac deal, signals that the Hawks are attempting to build something sustainable rather than chase short-term results with aging veterans. Kuminga fits that vision if he can demonstrate the all-around growth that made him a lottery pick in 2021.

The Hawks should exercise the option on Kuminga and treat the 2026-27 season as his genuine audition for a long-term deal. Paying $24.3 million for a 23-year-old who can guard multiple positions and create off the dribble is a reasonable bet. If he thrives alongside Garland and Mathurin, Atlanta has the core of something genuinely interesting. If not, they re-evaluate with full information rather than making a premature commitment.

Player	2025-26 Salary	Rights	Decision
Jonathan Kuminga	$23.8M	$24.3M team option	Exercise option
CJ McCollum	$30.7M	Full	Re-sign, below market
Gabe Vincent	$11.5M	Full	Minimum or depart

Atlanta should exercise the Kuminga option, bring McCollum back on a one-year, $12–14 million deal to mentor the younger core, and let Vincent walk. Kuminga’s ceiling — as a 23-year-old two-way forward with elite athleticism — is too high to abandon based on one bad fit. Give him the season alongside Garland and Mathurin to prove the Warriors were wrong to hold him back.