Jonathan Kuminga is the kind of bet the Bulls should be making.
He has already worn out his welcome in two places, with both the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks moving on from him. So far, the vision has outpaced the production. The idea of Kuminga has looked better than the player on the floor.
Even so, Chicago should be paying attention.
The Bulls are in a spot where adding upside matters, and Kuminga offers exactly that. On paper, the fit may not jump off the page. Chicago already has Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis in its forward mix, and both figures are likely to be better than Kuminga next season.
But the NBA is still an arms race for athletic, two-way wings, and Kuminga checks those boxes. He is only 23, and the raw tools are obvious.
The problem has been turning those tools into reliable production. That said, the upside is real enough to justify a look.
Just as important, the price tag should not be outrageous. Any contract he lands is expected to be short-term and prove-it in nature, which makes him a reasonable swing for a team like Chicago. A team-friendly deal would let the Bulls see whether their development staff can get more out of him.
The Bulls do have some paths to make it happen. They currently have an open roster spot and the room mid-level exception, which starts at $9.4 million next season.
That could be enough, depending on what else is out there for Kuminga. The fact that he is still on the market six weeks into free agency may say plenty about the interest level around the league.
If Chicago needs another route, a sign-and-trade with the Hawks is also on the table. Atlanta still holds Bird rights, which means it can offer more than the Bulls and then move him to Chicago. To make that work, the Bulls could use the salaries of Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Tre Jones, and/or Rob Dillingham.
There is also the possibility of clearing room elsewhere. Chicago could create more cap space by dumping salary in separate trades, then use that space to bring Kuminga in.
The Bulls have been linked to other restricted free agents, including Bennedict Mathurin and Peyton Watson, but Kuminga has not generated the same buzz. Still, that shouldn’t stop Chicago from taking a hard look.
If the Bulls are serious about stockpiling talent, this is the kind of move that fits. They are not in a hurry to chase immediate contention, so the priority should be collecting future assets and giving themselves more development swings.
Kuminga belongs in that category. Taking the chance, even if it is only for one year, would be a smart use of resources.
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Splitters move gives the Bulls an added layer of intrigue whenever Portland comes around, especially because his brief run in charge in Portland left enough of an impression to make his next stop worth tracking closely. When the schedule drops, the matchup that matters most in this corner of the league wont just be about where the Blazers are going next, but when Chicago gets its first look at the coach who changed directions rather than staying put. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Are Finally Committing To A Reset Fans Can Believe In
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David Aldridges latest NBA offseason rankings put the Bulls at No. 13, ahead of several other rebuilding clubs, which is a small but meaningful nod to the path they have chosen. The real test, of course, is whether this more deliberate approach can turn into something sustainable, especially with a new coach and a roster still taking shape. For now, the organization looks more committed to the process than it has in years, and the next steps will say even more than the first ones already have. [Read more 🡒]