An NBA trade idea between the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors to solve the Jonathan Kuminga dilemma has been created.
NBA writer Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea between the Bulls and Warriors:
Golden State Warriors receive: Coby White and Jalen Smith
Chicago Bulls receive: Jonathan Kuminga (sign-and-trade), Moses Moody and a 2028 first-round pick
Kuminga is still a restricted free agent. He doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and wants to leave the franchise, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.
In this NBA trade idea, Kuminga gets his wish and goes to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal.
“Would this trade hurt the Warriors’ long-term outlook? No question,” Buckley wrote. “Regardless of one’s opinion of Kuminga and his impact on winning, losing an unprotected first always carries risk, and Moody is a proven, generally reliable contributor. That said, Golden State’s first chapter without Stephen Curry is bound to be a bummer, so it might as well try to make its final chapters with him as great as they can be. Who knows when the next generational Warrior is walking through that proverbial door, after all. While they wouldn’t snag a star in this swap, they would check off a couple of nagging boxes. They need players who can pressure defenses off the dribble, and White offers not only that skill, but also enough shooting to maintain value off the ball.
“As for the Bulls, they should be distancing themselves from their prosaic present and pushing toward a brighter future. Betting on Kuminga’s ability to thrive in a larger, more consistent role than he’s handled in Golden State would be a big part of that plan. Adding the unprotected first might be an even bigger piece of the puzzle. And Moody is someone who can support a winning team whenever the Bulls are able to assemble one.”
The Warriors offered Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract with a team option in the third season two weeks ago. Kuminga declined the offer because he prefers a player option over a team option.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, presented a three-year, $82 million offer — including a player option in Year 3 — to the Warriors. The front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy, rejected it.
Kuminga’s qualifying offer is worth $7.9 million. If he signs it, the forward would have a no-trade clause for the 2025-26 season and enter unrestricted free agency next offseason.
Multiple teams will have cap space next offseason to pursue Kuminga, who averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Warriors last season in 47 games.
The 22-year-old Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Warriors.