If the Chicago Bulls are looking to take the next step forward in their retool, then Jonathan Kuminga should be a top target in free agency. Kuminga may be nearing the end of a polarizing Golden State Warriors career, with an opportunity to feature prominently on offense likely awaiting him elsewhere.
A dynamic scoring threat who has proven capable of lighting up the scoreboard in the playoffs, Kuminga is the offseason target Chicago needs to prioritize.
Kuminga has encountered his share of hurdles with the Warriors, due in no small part to his erratic playing time. Despite being selected at No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, he averaged more than 25.0 minutes per game just once in four seasons.
Considering Golden State has become a standard-setting organization, Kuminga's limited playing time has led some to believe that his upside isn't quite as profound as previously advertised.
A public debate between Draymond Green and Steve Kerr over how Kuminga fits with the Warriors' core players has only acted to stoke the divisive flames. Unfortunately, at the heart of that dispute is a 22-year-old athlete simply looking for a chance to consistently see the court.
In Chicago, Kuminga could be the productive wing who helps the organization move on from the Zach LaVine era and build with a realistic timeline in mind.
Kevin Pelton links Chicago Bulls to Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Warriors can match any contract offer he receives. That shouldn't prevent the Bulls from exploring this potential pairing, however, especially with a sign-and-trade a viable option to consider.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN suggested as much when he wrote that Chicago could explore that route with Nikola Vucevic helping to make the financial numbers align.
"The Bulls could try to put together a sign-and-trade, perhaps sending Nikola Vucevicto the Warriors and placing Kuminga in a role similar to the one DeMar DeRozan once played in the Windy City."
Whether or not the DeMar DeRozan comparison is apt, there's ample reason to believe the Bulls would benefit from exploring this acquisition.
Jonathan Kuminga can score with the best of them
Kuminga, 22, is one of the most dynamic young scorers in the NBA. He averaged 9.6 points in just 18.8 minutes per game between his first two seasons, and has increased his production to 15.8 points in 25.6 minutes per contest over the past two.
That translates to a career average of 20.5 points per 36 minutes, which is made even more impressive by the fact that he's shot 50.7 percent from the field during that time.
Kuminga proved that his game translates well to the playoffs when he stepped in and scored at a borderline elite level during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He averaged 15.3 points per game and 23.5 points per 36 minutes, shooting at a captivating clip of .484/.400/.710.
More importantly, despite being generally omitted from the rotation during the Warriors' first eight playoff games, Kuminga averaged 24.3 points in 31.0 minutes per contest over the team's final four outings.
That remarkable display of scoring proficiency included a 30-point eruption during Game 3 and a 26-point display as Golden State attempted to stave off elimination in Game 5 of its second-round series. More importantly, it was the epitome of how explosive Kuminga can be when he catches fire—even when rust should've set in after an extensive stint outside of Kerr's rotation.
Still just 22 years of age, Kuminga seems to have the tools to develop into one of the most productive scorers in the NBA.
Jonathan Kuminga fits the realistic timeline along which Bulls can retool
By signing Kuminga, the Bulls would be adding a dynamic young scoring threat who fits the timeline they're otherwise building along. Veterans remain on Chicago's roster, but the core is developing within a discernibly different chronology.
That includes 20-year-old wing Matas Buzelis and 25-year-old guards Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, as well as 22-year-old pending free agent Josh Giddey.
With Kuminga joining the team, Chicago would have an opportunity to build a young perimeter core for the future. It could also utilize the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to round the group into form with another young player to fit its formulating identity—perhaps even a Vucevic replacement.
With that assembly of talent, Chicago could begin to identify who actually fits its broader vision with a proven scoring wing in Kuminga giving it a productive scorer to build its offense around.
Kuminga will need to improve his outside shot to fit anywhere he ultimately opts to go, but Chicago is the ideal environment for him. It's effectively starting from scratch, as even its returning pieces were featured less prominently than they arguably should've been during the DeRozan and LaVine era. By most means and measures, even the Bulls' most proven players can relate to Kuminga's Warriors experience.
With a fresh start on a team that would be sure to give him the opportunity to establish just how profound his upside truly is, Kuminga could reward the Bulls' faith from the opening tip.