As the offseason continues to unfold, the Chicago Bulls' business has mostly come to a close.
They've added to their young core with their additions of Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, and Jaylin Sellers. They've raised their floor considerably with their acquisition of Nic Claxton via trade and their signing of Norman Powell. While this roster likely won't be competitive in an increasingly daunting Eastern Conference, that's not the goal in 2026-27.
Under new lead executive Bryson Graham, the goal is to build a defensive-minded identity from the ground up. Chicago has already taken major strides in that direction this offseason.
That's why it makes perfect sense for them to finally be out of the seemingly never-ending Jonathan Kuminga saga. As Kuminga works for a potential sign-and-trade away from the Atlanta Hawks, it's no longer the right time to take a swing on the slashing young forward.
Jonathan Kuminga was never the right choice for the Bulls, and the continued drama only makes that clearer
There was a time, before Kuminga negotiated his original rookie extension with the Golden State Warriors, where Chicago was considered a possible suitor for Kuminga. The Bulls had a desperate need for promising young talent, and there was a world where Kuminga was available for relatively cheap considering his draft pedigree.
But the Warriors ultimately held out— even after receiving concrete offers from various teams, including the Sacramento Kings— to see if they could maximize their eventual return. Ultimately, they were forced to package Kuminga's salary with Buddy Hield's in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis' expiring deal. From a pure perspective of a value, that could've been a worthwhile swing for Chicago.
Kuminga certainly still has offensive upside. He averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.6% from the floor between the Warriors and the Hawks last season. But he doesn't have the feel nor the perimeter shooting abilities to be a long-term starting option for most teams in the frontcourt.
Now, though, as Kuminga attempts to negotiate a sign-and-trade from Atlanta, he's still adamant about his value. It's rumored that he's looking for a deal north of $20 million annually. Although there are still strong suitors in the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, there are numerous complications in either team providing him with that sort of a payday. The Lakers have a firm offer on the table that's rumored to include Jarred Vanderbilt.
But this is a saga that will drag on for most of the offseason— again. The Bulls exited this saga long ago, and to re-enter it would've been an unnecessary distraction in an offseason that requires complete focus and intention on Chicago's part.
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