The Golden State Warriors have a Jonathan Kuminga problem. Head coach Steve Kerr admitted as much, telling Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard (h/t Bleacher Report), "It’s a tricky one because Jonathan obviously is gifted and wants to play a bigger role and wants to play more."
Kuminga, however, is far down the Warriors’ pecking order behind Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. His ideal NBA fit is as a power forward, but Golden State has franchise stalwart Draymond Green entrenched as a starter at that spot.
The Chicago Bulls don’t have any Currys or Butlers or Greens. They should be willing and happy to solve Kerr’s problem.
Bulls sign-and-trade for Kuminga would enhance Chicago's roster
As Kerr also noted in the same press conference, his 22-year-old forward has a massive 92 percent usage rate, making his fit in Golden State even more clunky. Chicago could give Kuminga a runway to utilize his scoring talents.
The Bulls were a three-point-heavy team in 2024-25. They attempted the third-most in the league and were fairly successful, hitting at a 36.7 percent clip. Kuminga’s strength is his strength, literally, and his explosiveness. At 6-foot-8 and a chiseled 210 pounds, the former G League Ignite star can accelerate past a good chunk of NBA defenders and/or leap over them to finish near the rim.
In addition to launching a ton of threes, Chicago played at one of the quickest paces in the league with a jumbo point guard like Josh Giddey leading fast breaks and scorers like Coby White running to open spots. The Bulls earned the most possessions in the NBA in 2024-25.
Kuminga would fit right into that offensive scheme, which would allow his physical gifts to shine even more.
The four-year pro has never been a stout defender, but given his size, strength and quickness, putting in more effort on that end should theoretically lead to better outcomes. The Bulls, who allowed the third-most points of any team in the league last year, could certainly use someone of Kuminga’s ilk.
Chicago has several expiring contracts that could make a sign-and-trade work. Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins and Nikola Vucevic’s salaries combine to surpass the $60 million mark. Golden State has already had discussions with Chicago’s front office about Vucevic, and a shooter like Huerter would fit well around Curry, Butler and Green.
The Bulls are projected to have the most salary cap space of any NBA team next summer. But will a free agent be willing to sign with a Chicago franchise that’s been stuck in the mediocrity mud for half a decade?
Kuminga would arguably be better than anyone VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas could snag on the 2026-27 free agent market.
The Warriors have a “tricky” Kuminga problem, and Chicago has an open forward spot. The two teams can solve both those issues with one move.