The Golden State Warriors have officially pivoted away from their aggressive pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, agreeing to a trade with the Atlanta Hawks that sends Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta in exchange for veteran center Kristaps Porziņģis, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on February 5, 2026.
This deal effectively closes the chapter on Golden State’s multi-week chase for the two-time MVP. The Warriors submitted several strong offers to the Milwaukee Bucks over the past week—including packages centered around Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and multiple first-round picks—but came away convinced in the last 24 hours that Milwaukee will not move Antetokounmpo at the deadline. Team sources indicated the Bucks are leaning toward keeping Giannis through the offseason to maximize return or explore a broader market.
Why Porziņģis Fits the Warriors
Porziņģis, 30, has long been on Golden State’s radar dating back to his playoff runs with the Boston Celtics. The Warriors have consistently targeted a rim-protecting, floor-spacing big who can complement Draymond Green, and Porziņģis fits that archetype perfectly when healthy:
- Elite rim protection and shot-blocking
- Reliable 3-point shooting (career ~36-38%)
- Ability to stretch defenses and operate in pick-and-pop situations
His contract is expiring at $30.7 million this season, providing short-term flexibility without long-term commitment.
The catch: availability. Porziņģis has battled a variety of ailments, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and other soft-tissue issues. He has appeared in only 17 games for Atlanta this season after playing just 42 of 82 for Boston last year. Warriors sources are optimistic he can return soon after the trade and contribute meaningfully in the stretch run.
The Warriors (currently 27-24, eighth in the West) hope Porziņģis can slot in as a starter or high-impact rotation piece alongside Green, giving them a more traditional big-man presence and defensive anchor they’ve lacked.
Kuminga’s Roller-Coaster Exit
The trade marks the end of Jonathan Kuminga‘s five-season tenure in Golden State—a journey filled with flashes of All-Star potential but inconsistent minutes under Steve Kerr. Kuminga averaged 12.5 PPG on 50.3% shooting across 278 career games with the Warriors and has a $24.3 million team option for 2026-27. Atlanta views him as a high-upside swing with room to grow on a rebuilding roster.
Buddy Hield adds shooting depth and veteran presence to Atlanta’s backcourt.
Additional Move: Jackson-Davis to Toronto
In a separate deal, the Warriors traded backup center Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a Los Angeles Lakers 2026 second-round pick, sources told ESPN.
Bottom Line
The Warriors have shifted from chasing a superstar splash (Giannis) to a more pragmatic move that addresses frontcourt depth and rim protection with a proven, albeit injury-prone, talent in Porziņģis. Draymond Green—previously dangled in Giannis talks—remains in the fold for now, preserving continuity in the locker room.
Golden State (27-24) hopes this gives them a boost to climb the Western Conference standings and make a playoff push in Curry’s later years. Atlanta gets a young, controllable wing with star upside in Kuminga.
Warriors fans: Does Porziņģis + keeping Draymond feel like a win, or are you disappointed they couldn’t land Giannis? Drop your takes below—this deadline delivered drama, but not the blockbuster many expected!