The greatest irony is nothing more than a simple "thank you".

In a game where the Hawks dominated the Trail Blazers, the Warriors inexplicably found themselves in the crossfire.

During the fourth quarter, as Kuminga stepped to the free-throw line, Hawks fans chanted in unison: "Thank you, Warriors." Hawks fans have always been the most creative during free-throw situations, offering "special affection" to many star players. For example, after Luka Dončić was traded from the Mavericks, Hawks fans would shout "Nico!" during his free throws.

When Christie was still with the Lakers but mired in trade rumors, Hawks fans would taunt him by chanting, "LeBron is going to trade you." In an even more amusing instance, when Ben Simmons was at the free-throw line, Hawks fans would shout "Kendall Jenner!" to disrupt him, and Simmons indeed missed every shot.

It wasn't just the fans. Today, after Kuminga dunked over Yanhan Sen, the Hawks' arena announcer also exclaimed, "Oh, thank you, Golden State Warriors, we are so grateful! How could you let go of such a young and talented player? I can't imagine!"

Today, Kuminga delivered another efficient and impressive performance. In the first quarter alone, he attacked the rim and drew seven foul shots. He took over in the fourth quarter, shooting 6 for 5, including 1 for 1 from three-point range, and scoring 11 points to seal the game. His highlights included a fast-break windmill dunk at rim level and a powerful dunk over Yanhan Sen.

This play was certainly not Yanhan Sen's fault. The player assigned to guard Kuminga completely lost him, allowing Kuminga to take off unimpeded under the basket. Kuminga's explosive leap and elevation were on full display, leaving Yanhan Sen no time to react and forcing him to scramble out of the way.

In today's game, Kuminga played 25 minutes, making 7 of 10 field goals, 1 of 2 three-pointers, and 5 of 7 free throws, totaling 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +20. If his 27-point debut was considered a small sample size, his stats over three games—averaging 21.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, with shooting splits of 67.7% from the field and 55.6% from three-point range—speak volumes.

The Hawks have won all three games with Kuminga. He came off the bench twice and started once, with the start actually being his lowest shot-attempt game. Coming off the bench, Kuminga actually gets more offensive opportunities. His athleticism fits perfectly within the Hawks' offensive system, and he has earned the full trust of the coaching staff.

Evaluating purely from a player personnel perspective, the Warriors' trade of Kuminga and Hield for the Hawks' Porziņģis currently looks like a clear win for the Hawks. Setting Hield aside, Kuminga has seamlessly integrated into the Hawks' tactical scheme, becoming a key part of the rotation. Porziņģis, due to his poor availability record, was no longer in the Hawks' long-term plans.

The Hawks' management also doesn't have to worry about extending Kuminga's contract immediately. For the 2026-27 season, Kuminga's contract includes a $24.3 million team option, which the Hawks can simply exercise to retain him.

Since joining the Warriors, Porziņģis has played only one game. Regardless of his skill level, his availability is a major issue. The problem isn't a typical injury but a complex medical condition that leaves him vulnerable to frequent illnesses. After failing to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Warriors' management acted quickly, trading Kuminga for Porziņģis in an attempt to mitigate losses. However, they clearly underestimated the severity of Porziņģis's availability problems.

However, the success of this trade cannot be judged solely on player talent. The reality is that Kuminga could never have produced these performances with the Warriors. The Warriors, or more specifically Steve Kerr, had completely lost faith in him, and Kuminga himself was no longer willing to play for the team. The relationship was beyond repair.

Therefore, the Warriors were cutting their losses to avoid a longer, more dramatic saga. The primary value of the acquired Porziņģis now seems to be his status as an expiring contract.

Looking back to 2022, the Warriors' future seemed bright after their championship. Poole was being groomed as Curry's successor, the forward duo of Kuminga and Wiggins held great promise, and they still had Wiseman, a center whose potential wasn't completely lost.

But ever since Draymond Green threw that punch at Poole, the Warriors' decline became inevitable. This wasn't mere misfortune; it was the result of managerial mistakes and tolerance that led to the entire situation.

Kuminga should be relieved. Although it came later than ideal, he has finally broken free from the Warriors' constraints. Now, the vast ocean is his to swim, and the sky is limitless for him to soar.