The Chicago Bulls lost out to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a bidding war for Jonathan Kuminga this summer. But that's a good thing — Kuminga was reportedly seeking a role that would have stolen crucial minutes from franchise cornerstones Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.
According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (subscription required), Chicago "expressed definite interest in Kuminga," something that was reported several times during the offseason. He added, however, that the Bulls refused to promise him a starting spot or a closing role — two things the team simply couldn't afford to give him.
There's a world in which adding Kuminga would have made perfect sense, but it isn't this one. The Bulls already have their frontcourt tandem of the future, and they're better for it.
Jonathan Kuminga reportedly wanted role Bulls wouldn't give him
Wilson and Buzelis have given the organization a level of hope it hasn't had since Derrick Rose. As Lorenzi succinctly states, "For the first time in a long time, the Chicago Bulls have a gleam about them."
As talented as Kuminga is, he would have sapped some of that gleam by turning a star duo into a trio. The addition would have done more harm than good.
Chicago was linked to the 23-year-old at several points this offseason, and it's easy to follow the trail of breadcrumbs.
New Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Bryson Graham was part of the Atlanta Hawks front office that acquired Kuminga in a trade with the Golden State Warriors last year. He certainly fits the archetype Graham looks for in a player.
The 39-year-old exec is a fan of SLAP traits — size, length, athleticism and physicality — and at a sturdy 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds with elite strength and explosiveness, Kuminga has them.
He also doesn't have a ton of experience playing NBA basketball. Despite being in the league for five years, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft has started only 98 games and appeared in 294 out of a possible 410. He can flash star potential on one night and disappear the next. He's still raw.
The Bulls already have two elite athletes who can toggle between both forward spots and need some significant skill development. But Wilson and Buzelis both have higher ceilings than Kuminga does. The franchise must prioritize them at all costs this season — even over wins.
There's nothing more important at this stage of Chicago's rebuild than making sure those two reach their seemingly limitless potential.
Kuminga would stunt their growth, not help it.
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