Recent reports hint at a deal between the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga being close to done, but nearly three months into the offseason, the two have yet to reach an agreement.
While Kuminga wants the biggest deal he can get and Golden State wants him to return on a discount, the mounting pressure and turmoil have looked to reach a peak. The Warriors have yet to sign any other players to their roster over the summer due to the Kuminga standstill, with six open spots, all of which they plan to fill soon.
But as Kuminga has caused some strife both on the team and in the front office, it might be best for the team to find him a new home. Golden State has seen other controversies during its historic run, but the 22-year-old wing player has put a major blemish on what is expected to be Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green’s last title push of their careers.
Therefore, the Warriors should send Kuminga elsewhere in hopes of adding another player who can better contribute to winning in 2025-26. Step in Coby White of the Chicago Bulls, coming off a career year, averaging 20 points per game.
Jonathan Kuminga For Coby White Mock Trade
As outlined by Bleacher Report, a full Kuminga for White trade between Golden State and Chicago would look like this:
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
“With the entire hoops world—Jimmy Butler included, apparently—waiting on a resolution to Kuminga’s restricted free agency, the Warriors have to be searching for a solution that, in their minds, better prepares this roster to win right now,” Zach Buckley wrote. “Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all have two years left on their contracts, so the organization should feel much more urgency than the sticky situation with Kuminga otherwise reflects.”
Though very different players, White would play a similar role for Kuminga on the Warriors. He would take a larger perimeter scoring role away from players like Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield, but would be a more reliable ball-handler and playmaker alongside Golden State’s big three.
Kuminga had a bigger scoring responsibility once Curry went out in the playoffs, but White has been putting up those types of numbers over the past two seasons. His size would likely be a downgrade on defense, but at 6’5″, White remains somewhat effective.
“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,” Buckley wrote.
White holds the Bulls’ franchise leader in three-pointers made in a single season, and has played in at least 74 games in each of the last three years. His health and shooting would be a valuable addition for a Warriors team that has built its dynasty with the best shooters in the history of the league.
Warriors And Bulls Made The Deal
Along with finally moving away from Kuminga to bring in another scorer to the roster, there are other reasons both Golden State and Chicago make this deal. As mentioned, White remains a similar, if not better, scorer with a proven resume, and would signal a slight refresher to their veteran roster.
However, as seen in the trade pitch, Golden State sending away a first-round pick just for the right to end their Kuminga standstill would be a tough ask.
“That said, Golden State’s first chapter without 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,” Buckley wrote. “Who knows when the next generational Warrior is walking through that proverbial door, after all.”
In addition to swapping White for Kuminga, the Warriors would also pick up Smith in the deal, a big man who would come in on their incomplete frontcourt depth. After losing Kevon Looney in free agency, Golden State has just Green, Quinten Post, and potentially Al Horford as their only big men.
Smith is effective when on the court and would offer at least some rim-protection on a team with more wing depth than anything else.
For Chicago, they locked down Josh Giddey, and he and White playing together found limited success. They would bring in Kuminga and have him take on a larger scoring role, while giving Giddey the opportunity to be the lead playmaker.
“As for the Bulls, they should be distancing themselves from their prosaic present and pushing toward a brighter future,” Buckley added. “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.”
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