In a brand new mock draft printed to FanSided.com, NBA Draft analyst Christopher Kline projected that the Atlanta Hawks—by way of the New Orleans Pelicans—will win the lottery and choose AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 total within the 2026 NBA Draft. It’d be a potentially colossal development, as Dybantsa is broadly praised as a possible franchise-level expertise and scorer.
If the Hawks really expertise a lottery-night miracle, nevertheless, happening to pick Dybantsa would doubtless additionally result in parting methods with Jonathan Kuminga.
Drafting Dybantsa would imply defining the way forward for the ahead positions in Atlanta. Dybantsa would slot in at small ahead, with franchise participant Jalen Johnson taking part in the 4. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu would doubtless proceed to begin alongside them.
That would nonetheless depart house for Kuminga to return for the 2026-27 marketing campaign and rebuild his repute because the sixth man for a playoff workforce, however the long-term ramifications might be dire.
Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors in the end break up because of the two sides not seeing eye to eye on his superb function. He wished an opportunity to develop in a high-usage surroundings, whereas the Warriors most well-liked to maintain him in additional of a complementary state of affairs.
Perhaps Kuminga would in the end be open to growing because the sixth man in 2026-27, however it’d be tough to examine him returning past that season if the Hawks draft Dybantsa.
Drafting AJ Dybantsa would doubtless sign finish of Jonathan Kuminga’s Hawks tenure
Dybantsa is not only a promising younger expertise, however one of the vital gifted scorers to emerge from the collegiate ranks in current reminiscence. In 2025-26, he turned the third freshman in NCAA Division I historical past to win the scoring title, averaging 25.5 factors per recreation on .510/.331/.774 taking pictures.
A 6’9″ wing with the explosive athleticism and three-level scoring potential to develop into a go-to player in the NBA, Dybantsa would be a dream pick for the Hawks.
There would still be space for more experienced players to provide a likely stronger sense of consistency than a first-year player on a team with immediate ambition. That’s where Kuminga comes in with his career average of 20.2 points per 36 minutes.
There’s simply no way around how risky it would be to have Kuminga realize elements of his potential with the Hawks during the 2026-27 season.
For one, Atlanta can’t afford to have a disgruntled player asking for a bigger role when they’re just now establishing the team’s new identity. Furthermore, Kuminga has a club option for the 2026-27 campaign that would make him an unrestricted free agent the following summer.
Thus, the query would beckon if Dybantsa does the truth is be part of the Hawks: Would or not it’s value bringing Kuminga again for one season or would or not it’s higher to easily lower ties?
