Since the start of the offseason, the Chicago Bulls have been floated in rumors regarding a potential sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga. The Golden State Warriors forward is currently an unrestricted free agent.
However, over the past few weeks, those rumors have begun to cool off. At this point, we seldom hear of any legitimate interest in Kuminga’s services from the Bulls. According to Jake Fischer, speaking via a recent Bleacher Report livestream, Chicago’s decision to trade Lonzo Ball may have impacted their chances of landing the former lottery pick.
“I think that’s something that would have been more likely if the Bulls waited and had Lonzo Ball to send back to Golden State instead of that deal that they already made with Cleveland,” Fischer said. “I think that’s something Golden State would have liked.”
The Bulls traded Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this summer, bringing Isaac Okoro back as part of the deal. While Ball’s departure isn’t likely to be a death blow to the Bulls’ chances of landing Kuminga, it certainly won’t help. After all, Golden State must like the return package on offer to even consider making the trade happen.
Bulls Focus Remains on Josh Giddey
In a July 17 report for “The Stein Line” newsletter, NBA Insider Jake Fischer noted how Kuminga’s camp had been hopeful of a deal with the Bulls heading into the offseason.
“The 22-year-old’s camp had also been hopeful, sources say, about a potential sign-and-trade with Chicago, but the Bulls have their own ongoing restricted free agency dance to navigate with Giddey,” Fischer wrote. “The sides, sources say, remain far apart, with the Australian point guard long known to be seeking a deal that pays in the $30 million range annually.”
Kuminga would be a strong addition to Chicago’s roster. Assuming the Bulls also re-sign Josh Giddey, they would have a future-proof one-two punch to build the rest of the roster around. However, with each passing week, it’s looking less and less likely that Kuminga lands in the Windy City ahead of the new season.
Giddey’s Camp is Playing Hardball
In the same July 17 report from Fischer, he revealed that Giddey’s camp has been remaining steadfast in their pursuit of a $30 million per year deal from the Bulls.
“Back to Giddey and the Bulls: Chicago’s front office has no shortage of experience when it comes to waiting out a restricted free agency market,” Fischer reported. “This time, Giddey’s representation has not wavered in its pursuit of a $30 million annual salary, sources say, while the Bulls’ offers have been much closer to $20 million.”
Giddey’s future likely still remains in Chicago. However, both sides will need to adjust their expectations on what a deal should look like. Otherwise, they could find themselves in a stalemate.
Unfortunately, if that does happen, the only logical solution would be for Giddey to opt into his qualifying offer. The problem is, if he does that, he will hit unrestricted free agency next summer. And for the Bulls, that would be the worst-case scenario, and something they will likely want to avoid. Because if Giddey does hit unrestricted free agency next summer, the Bulls lose all of their current leverage. As such, it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the coming weeks.
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