The Atlanta Hawks decided to pass on Jonathan Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent, and his agent, Aaron Turner, is already out here dropping bombs about Kuminga’s impact during his short stint in Atlanta. You might think it’s just agent talk, but Turner is backing it up with facts that are tough to argue with, claiming Kuminga was the Hawks’ best player from the moment he arrived.
His Agent Says Kuminga Was Atlanta’s Best Player, Period
Turner didn’t mince words when he sat down with Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, laying out exactly why he believes Kuminga was the real deal for the Hawks after the February trade. He said, flat out, “He was their best player from the moment he showed up in terms of winning impact.” Turner emphasized that this isn’t just an opinion. He pointed directly to Kuminga having the “best on-off net rating” during the regular season. Not only that, but when the Hawks got those two playoff wins against the Knicks, who had the best net rating in both Game 2 and Game 3? Yep, Jonathan Kuminga. Turner also gave a shoutout to “CJ” for really stepping up alongside Kuminga, willing the team to those crucial victories. So, to hear that Atlanta let that kind of “winning impact” walk away for $24.3 million? That’s a head-scratcher.
Why Being an Unrestricted Free Agent Is Actually Better for Kuminga
Even with that kind of impact, the Hawks didn’t pick up the option, committing instead to Dyson and Jaylen long-term, which Turner acknowledges. But for Kuminga, his agent argues that staying in Atlanta, potentially as an eighth player or coming off the bench with an expiring deal, offered zero “upward growth.” Turner said, “You may get traded out to some place you don’t know,” implying a lack of control and stability. The reality, according to his agent, is that Kuminga being in this unrestricted free agent situation is “more productive than being in the $24 million expiring.” Forget Bird rights, Turner explained, because those only matter if the team actually wants to keep you. He’d rather Kuminga “not have my Bird rights. Play good basketball. Show the world what I can do, be part of a winning group.” That’s a bold stance, but it shows a clear desire for Kuminga to control his destiny.
So, what’s next for Jonathan Kuminga? His agent is clear: Kuminga needs to be in a spot where he “can control the basketball and put himself in the best position.” Turner wants to see Kuminga “go play basketball for the first time in his career where he wants to be, where he’s chosen.” With the NBA season approaching, all eyes will be on where Kuminga lands and if he can truly show the world that Atlanta made a mistake letting their “best player” walk.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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