Atlanta forward Jonathan Kuminga has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s home matchup with the Washington Wizards and is expected to take the court for the first time since being traded to the Hawks, according to multiple reports.
Brad Rowland of “Locked on Hawks” noted the status upgrade Monday, while ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that the 23-year-old is anticipated to play. Kuminga has been sidelined since Jan. 22, when he sustained a bone bruise in his left knee after hyperextending it.
The Hawks obtained Kuminga and veteran guard Buddy Hield before the trade deadline in the deal that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Golden State Warriors. Selected seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga entered restricted free agency last offseason, eventually agreeing to a two-year, $46.8 million contract that carries a $24.3 million team option for 2026-27.
Because Atlanta holds that option, the remaining 23 games could determine whether Kuminga reaches unrestricted free agency this summer. Through 20 appearances with Golden State earlier this season, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.8 minutes, shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent at the line.
Atlanta enters Tuesday at 28-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference. The club shook up its starting lineup in Sunday’s victory over Brooklyn and is positioned to compete in the play-in tournament for a fifth consecutive year.
Source: Hoops Rumors
