The Chicago Bulls should have zero "untouchables" on their roster. For the right player, even Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis should be available. But the chances they take a home run swing like that are slimmer than slim to none, so they should be doing everything they can to build around that pair.
That makes a trade for Jonathan Kuminga the right move.
The much-talked-about Warriors forward could be the piece that unlocks Buzelis' massive potential.
Acquiring Kuminga would be a controversial decision. But the timing is right for the Bulls to take that chance.
Trading for Jonathan Kuminga is the right decision for the Bulls
Buzelis is the closest thing the franchise has to a potential superstar. The 21-year-old has flashed tantalizing improvements in his second NBA season, posting averages of 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.
He's already eclipsed the number of starts (40) he had last year (31). He's playing a much larger role -- his usage rate of 21.3 trails only Giddey, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic. And two of those three may be playing elsewhere in a few weeks.
But the Chicago native has been a square peg shoved into a round hole at times. At 6-foot-9 with elite explosiveness, he's capable of playing power forward in The League, but his slim frame and offensive game are better suited for a jumbo wing role.
Buzelis is a perimeter-oriented player; he's more comfortable using his combination of size and athleticism to blow past bigger defenders and punish smaller ones. He's also better suited defensively to stick with quicker guards rather than banging with bigs down low.
Unfortunately, he's been forced to play a large amount of his minutes at the four this season because of Chicago's wing-heavy roster. His future, though, is undoubtedly at small forward; he just needs the right player next to him.
That's where Kuminga comes in.
The 23-year-old former G League Ignite star, who was taken one spot after Giddey in the 2021 draft, is also an athletic wing/forward hybrid. But where Buzelis is thinner and more explosive, Kuminga has a bigger frame sturdy enough to stand with power forwards. Buzelis has a more consistent 3-point stroke, while Kuminga can better play through contact near the basket.
The Bulls would be buying low on Kuminga
The five-year pro clearly has some flaws. He seems to view himself as a superstar but hasn't consistently played like one. He doesn't seem eager to do the little things or lock in defensively, despite his physical gifts.
The Warriors are ready to make one or two final postseason runs with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. They're not interested in waiting for Kuminga to turn the corner as a player. The Bulls, on the other hand, can afford to let him stretch his legs in a more relaxed environment with his much-desired larger role.
Kuminga's exit from Golden State has been a certainty for months. The fact that he officially requested a trade on the first day he was able to be moved only cements it. The Warriors are reportedly looking to acquire some expiring contracts in a return package, something Chicago has plenty of.
The trade is there to be had, and it would make sense for the Bulls. If things don't work out, they would hold a team option for next year and could simply cut bait and move on.
Whether a deal actually happens is a different story entirely.