The Bulls are unlikely to emerge as a viable sign-and-trade suitor for Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga after agreeing to re-sign their own RFA (Josh Giddey), according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, Fischer suggests that Chicago is worth keeping an eye on as a future landing spot for Kuminga, given that the Bulls project to have significant cap room beginning in 2026.
The fact that the Bulls and many other teams around the NBA should have cap space available next summer is one reason why Kuminga is “strongly considering” accepting his $8MM qualifying offer, which would allow him to hold an implicit no-trade clause for the coming season and reach unrestricted free agency in 2026, Fischer writes. While Kuminga’s preference would be to negotiate a longer-term deal, the Warriors haven’t yet seemed inclined to budge off their two-year, $45MM offer that includes a second-year team option.
Still, there’s a sense that a resolution on Kuminga might not be far off. Anthony Slater of ESPN said during an NBA Today appearance (YouTube link) that there have been “renewed efforts” this week to bridge the gap between the two sides, while Fischer says people connected to the negotiations believe there could be movement within the next week.
Here’s more from Fischer:
- The Knicks weighed the possibility of signing free agent big man Thomas Bryant but ultimately decided to prioritize depth in the backcourt and on the wing, league sources tell Fischer. The team reached non-guaranteed deals this week with Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet, and Garrison Mathews, who will each compete for a roster spot.
- Following up on his report about Sixers veterans Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. being on the trade block, Fischer clarifies that the front office doesn’t appear to be operating with any sort of “clear-cut directive” to move either player. Trading Drummond and/or Oubre without taking back any salary would help create a more favorable cap/tax situation as Philadelphia looks to re-sign restricted free agent Quentin Grimes.
- The Kings‘ decision to waive Terence Davis, who had a non-guaranteed contract, likely signals that they don’t expect to need his outgoing salary for matching purposes in a trade before the season, Fischer observes. “The only reason for Sacramento to have kept Davis this long was to have potentially used him in a trade,” one league source told The Stein Line.
- Celtics big man Luka Garza had hoped to suit up for Bosnia and Herzegovina at this year’s EuroBasket tournament but has yet to be cleared by FIBA, according to Fischer, who explains that Garza’s appeal will be heard after EuroBasket ends. If he gets clearance, Garza could represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2027 World Cup.
Exactly… Why would teams need to trade anything for Kuminga now when could sign him next off season as a free agent? I also don’t believe the Warriors not playing him will hurt Kuminga. Kuminga was the best the Warriors had in the playoffs just gone, not named Steph. Easily Warriors, best once Steph went down. He’s young enough and shown plenty for a team to sign long-term. If anything not playing Kuminga says more about the Warriors front office and coaching staff. They’ve really stuffed this and NO, I don’t believe Kuminga was ever offered the ridiculous contract last off season that was leaked. More than likely leaked internally by the Warriors to save face and keep up appearances. The Bulls do have Buzelis, Williams and just drafted that kid who is also similar and positions and play will overlap with Kuminga. Not to mention Koby White will be asking for $30 mil per. Chicago aren’t the only team who’ll have significant cap space though. We’re heading for a nasty breakup and a game of what he said she said. Ouch, my back, I mean, why aren’t they playing me, lols.
So far nobody has offered the warriors anything of value in trade. I highly doubt the Bulls would offer anything for him because they rather see what they got. Some team will make an offer to him once he signs that QO because it will be easy knowing a 8.9 million try out is not a big risk of players going out.
I read an interview with The Athletics beat writer for the Lakers. He was asked about a possible trade involving Kuminga and LeBron. He didn’t think it would happen. He went onto add that he thought Kuminga’s demands were a bit delusional.
@74 Teams are waiting back to see if he is worth a big contract. Right now no team thinks he is worth it.
> So far nobody has offered the warriors anything of value in trade.
arc89, how could you or any of us on this site possibly know that?
You make definitive statements about NBA front office activity like this all the time, so I have to ask:
1. Do you realize that we get a small fraction of what NBA front offices discuss, and, it’s heavily filtered that.
2. Do you realize the NBA front offices are largely prohibited from publicly disclosing such discussions?
3. Do you realize that it’s usually not in the interests of NBA front offices to disclose such information?
It’s called “TradeRumors” for a reason.
Considering how many teams have no cap wiggle room and the warriors no little wiggle room on their cap I am very sure there is not any offers coming in for Kuminga. If you were a NBA team why would trade for a guy that wants $30 million a year with very little resume backing it up. warriors have no reason to give him up for nothing. Warriors also has the inside track if he had an all star year they would pay him a good contract.
“If you were a NBA team why would trade for a guy that wants $30 million a year with very little resume backing it up”
“So far nobody has offered the warriors anything of value in trade”
I mean you actually can’t make this up.
> I am very sure there is not any offers coming in for Kuminga.
arc89, in that case, you’re clear that you’re stating your personal opinions. But that’s different from your practice of making definitive statements about front-office activity as if you have access to the complete record of what’s happened.
You may believe that everybody accepts that your statements about front-office discussions are the whole truth. But I’d offer that, at least to some of us, they make you sound very naive.
Come aristole you are sounding like a homer Go look at the teams in the NBA that have payroll to bring Kuminga in. Get back to me when you can list the teams that can fit Kuminga under their payroll. Go….. Now you see you are the one that is naive
arc89,
Here’s an example of information that we learned about the failed Paul George trade involving Kuminga AFTER the trade that had made in the works for multiple weeks fell through. What I’m saying is that we never know about these things ahead of time.
link to bleacherreport.com
I’m saying neither you nor I have any idea about what trades involving Kuminga have been discussed beyond the unofficial reports of the S+T’s to Sacramento and Phoenix.
Warriors want him to sign QO lol get it right. Just can’t let go ……. Its 7.9 mill QO. There will be takers.
Why are we still debating this. He’s gone …….
Bye bye Kuminga bye bye …..
You seem to be ignoring one very important fact. They wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs with Kuminga starting. Through the previous 82 games, he would have great games. But, his overall numbers sucked. The not play him came because they were losing why don’t you see that.
@Giants74 ok but he was given no chances to improve, unlike Podz, who stunk for months after a hot start, he did nothing to deserve the playing time he got. Meanwhile Kuminga and Moody get 1 chance then its bench for weeks. Kerr stinks at developing players. Kerr should not have a job as an NBA HC if he does not possess this vitally-necessary skill.
Exactly. Even if he signs a QO and GS bench him for the entire season, I’d want my team to give him a long-term deal next summer. The same goes for Grimes. Giddey has already signed; it would be nice if he were there in free agency too, but hey, Chicago are not that dumb.
At the same time, I don’t want my team to give GS anything of value for him in a sign-and-trade. Why do that?
> At the same time, I don’t want my team to give GS anything of value
> for him in a sign-and-trade. Why do that?
Because next summer will be too late. Keep in mind that while Kuminga has trade veto rights, that does not mean he will not be traded in the near-term if he signs the QO.
Here’s what people are missing. Kuminga and his agent have talked to multiple teams in the course of exploring S+T’s now. Those discussions were not solely about those an S+T now, but also what happens if he signs the QO So, Kuminga and his agent have a short-list of teams that have indicated a long-term interest in him. The Lakers are the team that is being mentioned. (If Kahwi is gone, I suspect the Clippers will be as well.) Kuminga will approve a trade only to a team he intends to sign a longer-term deal with next summer.
If/when the QO is signed, the Warriors and Kuminga’s camp will engage with that short-list of teams that Kuminga will approve a trade to. In other words, Kuminga won’t be available next sumer.
The Kings are Not going anywhere !! No Play Offs, No Play Ins, No where. We have a gm who refuses to do ANYTHING to improve this Roster !! Nothing !! He’s waiting and hoping for 1 single player, who is NOT coming here, Kuminga !! All the while, everyone else of any upgrades are being signed and snatched up !! If they do Not plan on putting a winning team on the floor and just settle with taking our money, just pack up and move this team elsewhere !! I’d rather cheer for the Warriors at this point of time, since they do something and at least try to make their team better !! The Kings are an Utter Joke !!
Kings gotta smash the rebuild button and trade Sabonis, Monk, Derozan, Lavine and Murray as soon as possible.
Kings GM is horrible. They should have kept Fox and traded him in the offseason when more teams had cap space. They should have received a lot more for him than what they got. Why did they draft Carter when he only had 1 good year in college out of 3?
🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 😢😢😭😭😭😭😭😭
When will it stop ……
Have we not come to grips with Horford, Melton Payton yet. Moses Brown was just signed with Nuggets. Another one that got away. ……. Gee
I bet Al’s trade is looking real good about now ……
Brandon Clarke and a future pick ——-
Grizz will show you how to play JK. I start him day ONE. Chk in the mail please. From both teams
Warriors never wanted Moses Brown. he is a back up back up Center.
1) Convince Kuminga the 1 + team option is not such a bad idea for him personally
2) Come to terms on the 2-yr deal; get it right about in the 56-60 million range
3) Easily sell the idea of Kuminga rejoining some of his old buddies in what will be the ‘Warriors 2.0 squad’
4) Make sure Pelicans can do all the roster reshuffling necessary to pull off this late offseason STUNNER – reminiscent of the recent Towns-for-Randle-and-DiVincenzo jaw dropper
5) Sign Kuminga, then ship him – along with his newly-penned, approximately 30-mil-per RAGER of an outcome to this stalemate – and Buddy Hield to the Pelicans for the rights to Trey (trey trey and ANOTHER wide open trey with Steph as his best ever decoy) Murphy III
6) To sweeten the deal, the Warriors throw in their 2027 or 2028 first-round pick (Pelicans swap a couple seconds to the Dubs). To make the finances work out, Pelicans find a taker for Herb Jones and quickly recoup the seconds they gave up to Dubs.
7) Assuming a healthy Zion and Dejounte: HOLY CRAAAAP, Or-leeeeeeaaannzzzz!! 118-123 points a night is VERY possible. And YYEEEEAHHHHSSS, Dub Nay-shuuhhhnnn! You’ve got yourself a young gun who will fit in so much better with the old HOF core than Kuminga ever would – and fingers crossed he stays post HOF core to dazzle and delight Dub Nation for the next era of bay-sketball, alongside the likes of also-entering-their-primes Podz and Post. Oh, I LIIIIIIYYYYK iiiiiiiiiiihhhhh-tuh!!