An insider advocates that the Chicago Bulls should consider trading for an embattled Western Conference standout.
Now that Chicago has wrapped up its own Josh Giddey restricted free agency drama — inking the 6-foot-8 point guard to a four-year, $100 million deal — Peter O'Keefe of Blue Man Hoop opines that the team may want to look into a trade for one of the other big restricted free agents of the summer.
The Golden State Warriors' offseason has essentially been on hold for months, as the team engages in a game of chicken with restricted free agent power forward Jonathan Kuminga. As of this writing, no one has blinked.
The Warriors' dangerous Kuminga contract waiting game
For now, Golden State appears to be holding firm with a two-year, $45 million offer. Kuminga, who seems to be hoping for a sign-and-trade out of town, may opt to pick up his one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer so he can better control his destiny and pick a new team next summer. The 6-foot-8 forward has until October 1 to make a decision on the qualifying offer.
The Warriors supposedly had offers from at least the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns on the table for Kuminga sign-and-trades, but balked at the suggested return packages.
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While they wait for the 22-year-old champion to make a decision, the Warriors have paused the rest of their summer business. Thus, anticipated free agent signings Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II remain adrift — for now, anyway.
Kuminga is the exact kind of athletic, high-upside forward Chicago needs. The Bulls have two such underwhelming lottery picks on their roster already, in $90 million man Patrick Williams and new trade acquisition Isaac Okoro.
In 47 healthy bouts for the 48-34 Warriors last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points on .454/.305/.668 shooting splits, 4.6 boards and 2.2 dimes a night.
Earlier this summer, Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer indicated that Kuminga and his representatives were potentially interested in linking up with the Bulls, a mediocre team that he likely sees as an easy path towards big, consistent rotation minutes.
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