The Chicago Bulls could form a dynamic pairing of Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga next year.
With the Warriors preparing for what could become a significant midseason roster overhaul, a new three-team trade proposal has surfaced that would send the former lottery pick to the Bulls, a franchise long rumored to hold interest in the 23-year-old forward.
The hypothetical framework — outlined by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel — positions Chicago to land Kuminga, while Golden State receives frontcourt and backcourt reinforcements and the Dallas Mavericks secure additional guard depth.
Proposed 3-Team Deal Sends Kuminga to Chicago
Under Siegel’s proposal, the three teams would exchange the following:
Golden State Warriors receive: C Daniel Gafford, G Ayo Dosunmu, CHI 2029 2nd-round pick
Chicago Bulls receive: F Jonathan Kuminga, C Trayce Jackson-Davis, PHI 2030 2nd-round pick (via DAL), DAL 2032 2nd-round pick
Dallas Mavericks receive: G Coby White, GSW 2027 1st-round pick
In addition to Kuminga, the Bulls would also acquire center Trayce Jackson-Davis, another young big man who has struggled to carve out a stable role in Golden State’s spacing-heavy system. Jackson-Davis, 25, would give Chicago a developmental center and potential long-term replacement for Nikola Vučević, who is in the final year of his contract.
Bulls’ Rapid Decline Sparks Expectation of Trade Activity
GettyJonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a dunk in the second quarter against Coby White of the Chicago Bulls.
After beginning the season 5–0, the Bulls have unraveled, dropping 13 of their last 16 games and falling out of early playoff positioning. The downturn has increased league expectations that Chicago will make meaningful changes ahead of the trade deadline.
“Chicago will be making some changes at the deadline this season,” Siegel wrote. “Numerous players on the roster are on expiring contracts.”
Siegel added that Chicago’s past interest in Kuminga — dating back to last summer — could easily resurface given the current trajectory of the team.
Swapping Coby White for Kuminga, Siegel noted, would give the Bulls “a younger, more dynamic player on the same timeline as Josh Giddey,” whom the organization prioritized last offseason.
Chicago Identified as a ‘Team to Watch’ for Kuminga
While early-season speculation linked the Bulls to high-profile names — including a quickly dismissed rumor involving Anthony Davis — NBA insider Marc Stein reported this month that Chicago should instead be viewed as a “team to watch” in a Kuminga trade pursuit.
Stein noted that the Bulls previously raised Kuminga’s name during conversations involving Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, and Vučević, signaling a consistent belief that the former No. 7 pick aligns with the franchise’s youth-driven, athletic developmental arc.
The timing may be ideal for Chicago: Kuminga’s trade value has slipped amid Golden State’s tightening rotation.
Kuminga’s DNP in Chicago Amplifies Trade Signals
Kuminga’s value took another hit when he recorded a healthy DNP-CD in Golden State’s blowout win — notably, in Chicago. He did not appear even in garbage time, a rare signal that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr no longer views him as part of the rotation.
League observers interpreted the decision as unmistakable: the Warriors are preparing to move on.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Golden State will begin actively exploring offers on January 15, the date Kuminga becomes trade-eligible.
“Golden State wants to find upgrades on its roster, and Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary could be used in bigger trade scenarios,” Charania reported.
The Warriors also explored sign-and-trade frameworks involving Kuminga with the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings last offseason, though neither progressed to advanced stages.
Path Clear for a Giddey–Kuminga Young Core in Chicago
Chicago, which prioritized negotiations for Giddey last summer, could now pair the 21-year-old guard with Kuminga, forming a long-term athletic nucleus with notable upside.
With the Bulls sliding and the Warriors looking to retool around Stephen Curry, a deal built around Kuminga may finally align timing, need, and opportunity for both franchises.
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