The Chicago Bulls provided their rebuild a notable boost when they signed Josh Giddey to a long-term, team-friendly contract, but they would take two massive steps back if they splash the cash to sign Jonathan Kuminga as a free agent next offseason.
Kuminga has been in the same boat as Giddey this offseason, at least until a few days ago when the Bulls handed their point guard a deal worth $100 million over four years. For a 22-year-old coming off a career season who the organization views as the future at the position, that's a massive win.
Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors, on the flipside, still seem miles apart on an agreement to keep the forward in the Bay Area.
The Bulls and Kuminga have been linked at several points this summer, with Golden State's own 22-year-old reportedly favoring a move to the Windy City and Chicago holding mutual interest. Even with the Giddey saga now concluded, though, it doesn't appear the Bulls have completely lost focus on a potential deal.
Chicago Bulls interested in acquiring Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga was selected one spot behind Giddey in the 2021 NBA Draft, but hasn't turned his massive potential into consistent production. (It's worth noting he's never truly gotten the opportunity to stretch his legs as an offensive option for Steve Kerr.)
Still, he's shown enough flashes to keep NBA teams interested, and, according to insider Jake Fischer via The Stein Line substack, Chicago remains one of those teams despite having backed up the Brinks truck for Giddey.
Kuminga holds career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with shooting splits of 51/33/70. At times, however briefly, he's looked like the second or third scoring option on a contending team. In the Warriors' final three playoff games last season, for instance, he averaged 26.3 points on 52 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from three in 32.7 minutes per contest.
Unfortunately, that "however briefly" qualifier is necessary.
Chicago's front office is building a roster full of young, athletic, high-upside wings, and Kuminga certainly fits that bill. But for all the sense he makes on paper, he would come at a hefty cost - the former G League Ignite star is looking for a new deal even more pricey than the one the Bulls just handed Giddey.
It's also important to remember that Coby White, who became Chicago's top scoring option late last season, is an unrestricted free agent next summer, and Matas Buzelis seems headed for a rookie-scale max extension when he becomes eligible.
The Bulls selected French forward Noa Essengue with the No. 12 pick in this year's draft, and he projects to be a long, gracefully athletic combo forward who could fill the role Kuminga would, but for far less money. The team also desperately needs to upgrade the center spot.
Kuminga is a good idea in theory, and one that fits what the Bulls seem to desire, but it would be wise for them to spend their money elsewhere.