The Golden State Warriors ended their stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga at the end of September. However, there are persistent rumors that Kuminga will be available for trade once he becomes eligible on January 15, 2026.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey proposed a trade idea for the Warriors involving the 23-year-old forward. The deal gives Golden State an additional big man in the form of two-time NBA All-Star Nikola Vucevic.
Warriors Receive: Nikola Vucevic and a lottery-protected 2031 first-round pick
Bulls Receive: Jonathan Kuminga
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on October 5 that the expectation around the NBA is the Warriors will look to trade Kuminga once he’s eligible. Some of the teams interested in Kuminga are the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls.
Why Would The Warriors Do It?
Andy Bailey knew that the Golden State Warriors already added Al Horford this offseason, but the team remains undersized. Horford is not a tall center, while Quinten Post is a stretch five and Trayce Jackson-Davis is only listed as 6-foot-9.
Adding a player like Nikola Vucevic gives the Warriors additional size. Vucevic can play alongside Horford or Draymond Green while also giving Golden State a new dimension on offense. He’s a post player who could also knock down 3-point shots.
“The Golden State Warriors may have added Al Horford this offseason, but they’re still one of the smallest teams in the league. And the Chicago Bulls have a veteran center who could supercharge their second unit. Nikola Vucevic is a floor-spacer and ball-mover whose offensive game would fit right into the Warriors system,” Bailey wrote.
Even though he’s not a defensive center, Horford and Green can help him on that end of the floor. Vucevic is entering the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Even if the Montenegrin center leaves in free agency, the 2031 first-round pick alleviates the loss. It might be protected, but it’s still an asset that could be used in the next few years.
Why Would The Bulls Do It?
Steve Kerr told Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard that he has plans to use Jonathan Kuminga this upcoming season. However, Kerr’s history with Kuminga is too much to ignore. He likely fits better in a new environment like in Chicago, where he could be a perfect long-term partner for Josh Giddey.
“Fans may wince at the idea of giving up a first-rounder for Jonathan Kuminga, but his athleticism and physical profile are still intriguing, especially if, in a bigger role and with consistent opportunities set up by Josh Giddey, he could thrive,” Andy Bailey wrote.
With the Bulls already among the interested teams in Kuminga, it appears to be a match made in heaven. The franchise has also been trying to trade Vucevic for the past two seasons now, but they can’t seem to find the right package or players to get.
In addition to Vucevic, the Bulls are reportedly shopping forward Patrick Williams as well, as per Ashish Mathur of Ahn Fire Digital.
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