As of July 28, 2026, Jonathan Kuminga has yet to find a new home.
The saga doesn’t seem to be concluding any time soon, either.
Why?
Perception, output and outlook can go hand in hand, but more often than not, they don’t.
It’s not always the fault of the subject. Or the player, in this instance.
The tax of falling into a less-than ideal situation, being re-routed years later and given little time to carve out permanency before another free agency period is higher, and more daunting, than many would like to admit.
Situational shortcomings are often a direct result of two sides, or more, being unable to see eye to eye.
When the perception possessed by the camp of a player and the player himself outweigh the decision-maker’s perception of them both, disaster becomes inevitable.
But would it be fair to label Jonathan Kuminga’s ongoing free agency period a disaster?
Some would say yes, and for good reason.
A player with his level of talent and raw skills, at the age he currently is, shouldn’t have trouble finding a long-term landing spot.
Again, there’s difference in perception of projection, especially when it comes to Kuminga, whether it be for on or off-court reasons.
That’s where the most obvious disconnect is.
When he was dealt from the Golden State Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks just before last February’s trade deadline, fishy intel was made public.
True or not.
Was it to justify moving off of a young forward for an expiring veteran who proved he was simply unable to stay on the floor for more than a few-game stretch?
Probably.
The issue is that time-sensitive narrative-pushes do, in fact, work.
Media has the ability to sway.
People have the ears to listen.
They have the eyes to watch, too, and that’s where the Kuminga discourse becomes even more divided.
Glimpses of his game truly do allude to a future star.
He’s an incomplete player, but people have become desensitized to development.
Thank the recent wave of instant translators for that one.
Everyone wants a project player until it’s time to let the project player, well, be a project.
Five seasons into an NBA career, though, is usually a pretty good sample size to determine a trajectory. And to identify value.
As odd as it may be, Kuminga’s situation is different. It just is. It would be disingenuous to say otherwise.
That’s not to say he’s going to become an All-NBA level player, or hell, even an All-Star.
There’s been enough playing time over the last five years to see that he’s clearly not yet at his fullest potential, but even the best version of him is likely going to be flawed. Everyone is, just to different degrees.
It doesn’t minimize his impact.
Take his latest postseason showing, for example.
The Hawks were the only team to steal two games on the eventual-champion New York Knicks during their run.
The uncomfortable part of those victories: they don’t take either if they don’t make the trade for Kuminga just months prior.
What they were lacking in Game One was a bench spark. It’s the biggest reason they lost.
They got that spark in the next two, and to no surprise, they won both.
The good news is that Atlanta operated all offseason like they knew there would be a good chance Kuminga didn’t return.
It’s why they added Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins.
They’ll be able to get their bench spark without him now — something there would’ve been no shot of in April.
He can succeed in that role. He’s proven it on a big stage.
Now, it’s about finding a role he’ll carry for the next several years of his career. A big decision, no doubt. Maybe that’s why it’s taking so long.
His suitors envision his usage differently.
Atlanta sees a sixth-man.
The Lakers see a starter.
The Cavaliers, shoot, who knows?
Having him on the roster, wherever that may be, gives a team options.
His team, though, may not want that uncertainty. Understandably so.
An inconsistent role, for the third franchise he’s been on in six years, would put the length of his career in jeopardy.
He’s got a lot to give, and if he eventually finds the right spot, he could shine. Hawks fans know it, and so do Warriors fans, despite the messy breakup.
So does Steve Kerr.