The most surprising part of the Chicago Bulls’ 32-point loss to a Steph Curry- and Draymond Green-less Golden State Warriors team wasn’t their dismal offense or routinely porous defense—it was Jonathan Kuminga being a healthy scratch from Steve Kerr’s rotation.
Kuminga and Josh Giddey were two of the four prominent restricted free agents who spent the summer fighting for long-term deals. Giddey became the second domino to fall after the Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas—though unlike Thomas, he landed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls.
Why a Jonathan Kuminga trade is all but certain
Three weeks after Giddey signed his long-term deal, Kuminga and the Warriors finally reached an agreement of their own. While the annual value is similar to Giddey’s contract, Kuminga returned to Golden State on a two-year, $46.8 million deal that includes a team option after the first season.
While the Aussie prioritized long-term stability with an organization that clearly valued him, Kuminga opted for the opposite—a shorter deal that preserves future flexibility. And nearly two months into the season, Giddey’s commitment is paying off for the Bulls just as Kuminga’s bet on flexibility is paying off for him.
Giddey has ascended into All-Star contention, averaging 20.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. Kuminga, meanwhile, couldn’t even get on the floor against a reeling Bulls team despite the Warriors missing Curry, Green, and even Al Horford. While it may seem like a small blip, Kuminga’s latest DNP reflects a much larger pattern in Golden State. His tenure has swung from high-upside flashes to sudden benchings, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that his future lies outside the Bay Area.
Even though Warriors head coach Steve Kerr continues to make light of Kuminga’s up-and-down tenure, a divorce appears to be looming, at least according to Golden State insider Anthony Slater. The ESPN journalist wrote, "Kuminga becomes trade eligible Jan. 15. The Warriors are expected to explore the Kuminga trade market in the weeks ahead as the probability of a split before the February deadline remains strong."
Considering Kuminga’s trade value likely won’t be any higher than it is now—five years into his career and still unable to lock down a consistent role—it’s plausible the Warriors will look to wipe their hands clean of the $22.5 million they owe him this season and, finally, move on.
There’s always an appeal to 23-year-old former top-10 picks, but after watching the Bulls move Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro in consecutive offseasons, there’s a legitimate case that Golden State could follow a similar path, flipping Kuminga for an immediate contributor, especially with the Warriors carrying the second-oldest roster in the NBA.
Chicago could be Kuminga’s best fit
Of the known teams interested in Kuminga, the Bulls immediately come to mind. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported last summer that the 6-foot-7 wing’s camp sought to land in Chicago, a solution that felt amicable.
Meanwhile, Chicago acquired Okoro during Kuminga’s standoff with the Warriors, reducing their need for another wing. Now, six weeks into the season, an injury-depleted Bulls squad shouldn't care less about its roster composition, while the 13-12 Warriors could use a boost to contend in the grueling Western Conference.
One trade that immediately makes sense for both the Bulls and Warriors is a Nikola Vucevic-for-Kuminga swap. Golden State has long sought a floor-spacing big and even signed Horford this offseason to address that need. Yet Horford has struggled, shooting just 29.8 percent from long range, and to boot, the Warriors are 14.1 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the floor.
Last season, the Warriors reportedly targeted Vucevic, but Chicago’s insistence on landing a first-round pick stalled talks. This time, the Bulls should consider Kuminga—a former target and a player rather than a draft pick (which the Bulls for some reason prefer)—in exchange for the 35-year-old big man. While it would cripple Chicago’s already-thin interior, the Bulls aren't stopping their opponents anyway, so why not?
That said, the Warriors might hesitate to trade a 23-year-old for a 35-year-old on an expiring contract, but the solution is simple. Including a few second-round picks could make it work, especially since Golden State is almost entirely devoid of second-round selections for the next eight years.
Some might argue the trade isn’t worth it for the Warriors, but after five seasons of back-and-forth with Kuminga, including benching him for an entire game in December against the Bulls, it’s clear Golden State needs to move on, even if the return isn’t substantial.