After a roaring start to open the season, the Chicago Bulls are back where they belong: scratching and clawing for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Chicago is now 9-14, having lost seven consecutive games. They’re perfectly balanced on both ends of the floor, ranking 23rd in both offensive and defensive rating.
Now, the Bulls’ recent skid is in part due to injuries to key members of the rotation, but fans can’t ignore that Chicago is far from being a true threat in the Eastern Conference.
What’s the plan of attack moving forward? That’s the million-dollar question.
Do they stay the course, build around some of their younger talent, and take a Pacers-esque approach, as it’s been reported?
Or do they look to move some pieces to add an intriguing player right now?
Let’s evaluate one option.
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Jonathan Kuminga to the Chicago Bulls: NBA Trade Pitch
Jonathan Kuminga has been a fixture of the NBA rumor mill for quite some time. Even since signing an extension with the Golden State Warriors this past offseason, he’s yet to find his footing in Steve Kerr’s system, which has led many to believe that we haven’t been able to see him live up to his true potential.
After the drama that unfolded this offseason and the lack of any fundamental change in Kuminga’s role, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points believes that the Warriors will finally pull the trigger on a trade.
He’s proposed a three-team deal that sends Kuminga to the Bulls, while Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White depart from Chicago.
“Some teams share the same idea as high-ranking Warriors officials in the sense that they believe Kuminga is on the rise and has yet to reach the peak of his career in terms of the player he can become. With his athleticism and scoring abilities off the dribble, Kuminga could thrive in the right system that allows him to play freely,” wrote Siegel.
Should The Bulls Make This Trade?
There are a couple of ancillary pieces in this trade, but from the Bulls’ perspective, the biggest moving parts are Kuminga, White, and Dosunmu.
So, should the Bulls flip this duo of guards for a forward who may have untapped potential?
In a vacuum, I do think this is a good deal. On the surface, it doesn’t look great, but it’s about taking a chance on the unknown.
We know that Dosunmu and White are valuable contributors, but their ceiling is defined. Neither are All-Star-caliber players who dramatically impact the Bulls’ outlook, both in the short term and long term.
Kuminga, on the other hand, has shown flashes of being a player who can be a true difference-maker in the right situation. He’s the type of player who could help a team level up.
Now, I’m not saying he’s the skeleton key to help unlock the Bulls as a team, but in theory, it’s a worthwhile gamble.
While you could argue that if the Bulls are going to move on from a few players, it should be for an established impact player or picks, in my eyes, this is the kind of move the Bulls should be making if they truly want to take a step forward.
Jonathan Kuminga Stats
Unsurprisingly, given the current structure of the Warriors’ rotation, Kuminga is once again struggling to post big numbers in the stat sheet.
2025-26 Stats:
17 GP
25.6 MPG
12.4 PPG
6.3 RPG
2.6 APG
43.8 FG%