Roughly one week ago, ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania reported that the Chicago Bulls had attempted to trade for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. The deal, which Charania said was proposed "a couple of seasons back," would've sent now-Thunder guard Alex Caruso to the Bay Area.
The Warriors declined Chicago's offer, and the Bulls eventually dealt Caruso to Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey, who agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract this month. However, Kuminga's situation in Golden State is still unresolved, and analysts speculate Chicago could still be in the market for the nearly 23-year-old wing.
Like Giddey, Kuminga was a restricted free agent this summer, but he and the Warriors have yet to reach an agreement on a long-term extension. The Athletic's Sam Amick revealed on Wednesday that the Warriors and Sacramento Kings recently revisited a potential Kuminga trade, signaling that Golden State could be more willing to give up the former first-rounder than before.
If the Bulls are still interested in acquiring Kuminga, they may be able to put together an intriguing trade package. In a new proposal from Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley, Chicago would receive Kuminga via a sign-and-trade, guard Moses Moody and a 2028 first-round pick from the Warriors in exchange for guard Coby White and center Jalen Smith.
Losing White, a budding star who has rapidly improved in recent years, would be a big blow for the Bulls. However, Buckley argues that the young players and draft capital added could jumpstart a much-needed rebuild in the Windy City.
"As for the Bulls, they should be distancing themselves from their prosaic present and pushing toward a brighter future," Buckley said. "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. Adding the unprotected first might be an even bigger piece of the puzzle. And Moody is someone who can support a winning team whenever the Bulls are able to assemble one."
During his fourth season in the league, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 45.4% shooting. He bounced in and out of the rotation as the Warriors attempted a "win-now" push at the postseason, and Kuminga finally earned a consistent opportunity in the playoffs after Stephen Curry went down with an injury. The 22-year-old put up 20.8 points per game on 54.3% shooting and 42.1% from three in the second round against the Timberwolves.
Moody, a 6-foot-5 guard taken seven picks after Kuminga in the 2021 NBA Draft, has primarily made his name known on defense with Golden State. The former Arkansas Razorback was forced into a larger role last season, starting 34 games and shooting 37.4% from deep. Moody will begin a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension this fall.
The two young players are certainly strong compensation for White, but the 2028 first-round draft pick would be the cherry on top. Aging legends Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all have two years remaining on their current contracts, and by the time 2028 comes around, that pick could be extremely valuable to the Bulls.
It would be quite hard for Chicago to part with White, who the franchise drafted in 2019. The combo guard will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, though, and the Bulls could decide to go younger and gain draft selections by selling high on No. 0 now.
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