NBA trades today: Warriors land Kristaps Porzingis as deadline clock hits

With the 2026 NBA trade deadline set for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 5, the market jolted Wednesday night when Golden State moved Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Kristaps Porziņģis. The deal adds a proven, floor-spacing big to the Warriors’ frontcourt, while the Hawks convert an expiring veteran into a younger wing and a rotation shooter before the buzzer.

NBA trades today: Warriors–Hawks deal sets the tone

The trade sends Porziņģis to Golden State and routes Kuminga and Hield to Atlanta, giving both teams a clear, immediate lane:

• Warriors: A bet that a healthy Porziņģis can stabilize the center rotation with rim protection and shooting, while providing another half-court option alongside their core.

• Hawks: A bet on Kuminga’s age curve and athletic upside, plus Hield’s spacing, with more flexibility to reshape the roster after prior season changes.

Because the deadline is hours away, this kind of “clean swap” also tends to catalyze follow-on moves: teams that missed out on one big target often pivot quickly to Plan B, while contenders adjust to the new prices the market just set.

Kristaps Porzingis illness and availability questions

Porziņģis arrives with real on-court upside—and real near-term uncertainty. He has been sidelined recently with an illness, after missing time earlier due to Achilles-related issues. The open question for Golden State is not just whether he can play, but how quickly he can re-enter a rhythm that matches their pace and defensive demands.

For Atlanta, the timing matters too: moving him now avoids the awkward middle ground of carrying an expiring contract through the deadline while he’s unavailable. For Golden State, the calculus is sharper—this is a win-now swing that only looks smart if Porziņģis is ready to contribute meaningfully before the postseason.

Porzingis contract and the money math

Porziņģis is on an expiring deal in 2025–26 with a salary in the low-$30 million range, which makes this as much a deadline bet as it is a roster change. If he plays well and stays healthy, Golden State gains a high-impact big for a stretch run. If not, the Warriors have effectively turned two rotation pieces into a short-term flyer—albeit one with a high ceiling.

Hield’s salary slot is far smaller, and Kuminga’s recent contract structure (short-term, higher annual value) is notable because it can help a receiving team align future cap plans without locking in long years. Atlanta’s side, in other words, reads like a pivot toward younger talent and lineup versatility rather than a one-to-one replacement for Porziņģis’ size.

What it means for Warriors rotation and depth chart

On the court, Porziņģis changes Golden State’s geometry. A center who can shoot forces defenses to defend higher, opening driving lanes and creating more space for cutters and weak-side actions. Defensively, his length can deter rim attacks and help on the glass—areas where Golden State has often had to patch solutions with smaller lineups.

The flip side is lineup balance. Golden State’s best versions tend to rely on quick decision-making and switching; Porziņģis can fit, but he’s not a “switch everything” big. Expect Golden State to be selective: more drop or hybrid coverages in certain matchups, and carefully managed minutes until his conditioning and timing are right.

Meanwhile, Atlanta gets a jolt of athleticism on the wing with Kuminga, plus Hield’s reliable gravity as a spot-up threat. That combination can raise the floor of their offense quickly, even if the long-term outcome depends on Kuminga’s development and how the Hawks deploy him—starter minutes, small-ball lineups, or a flexible sixth-man role.

What to watch before 3 p.m. ET

The key signals between now and the deadline are practical, not poetic:

• Medical clarity: any update that indicates Porziņģis is close to returning (or not) will reshape how the deal is judged immediately.

• Warriors follow-ups: once a team trades two perimeter pieces, it often looks for another bench handler or defensive wing to balance the rotation.

• Hawks next steps: with new depth in place, Atlanta may still pursue a frontcourt add or a second move that consolidates the roster.

If this trade is the opening domino, the next few hours should reveal whether it was a standalone swing—or the start of a wider reshuffle across the league.

Sources consulted: NBA.com, Reuters, Associated Press, Spotrac