Even after resolving their own fraught restricted free agency situation with point guard Josh Giddey, the Chicago Bulls apparently still have a shot at the Golden State Warriors’ own embattled restricted free agent, power forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Jake Fischer of Substack’s The Stein Line reveals that Chicago may struggle to add Kuminga in a sign-and-trade this summer, for one fairly simple reason.
Restricted free agency updates, roster rumbles and a tale of international intrigue … all via the latest around-the-league notebook from @JakeLFischer: https://t.co/I2DbVkyrHd pic.twitter.com/LyCdw0ShUs
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 12, 2025
“The Bulls simply don’t have the outgoing trade pieces that the Warriors would be seeking in exchange for their 22-year-old” via sign-and-trade,” Fischer reports. “No such team has emerged all summer.”
Do the Bulls remain in the running for Kuminga?
The Warriors apparently fielded sign-and-trade offers from at least the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, but found both offers lacking.
Fischer cautions, however, that Kuminga could still be had through other routes— sooner or later.
MORE NEWS: Bulls should trade for embattled star forward, says expert
“Don’t dismiss Chicago completely as a future landing spot for Kuminga. The Bulls are projected to have significant salary cap space next summer and there will be more teams compared to this summer’s barren marketplace,” Fischer notes. “Those are among the factors that have Kuminga’s camp, I’m told, strongly considering the same route that Thomas went and accepting the $7.9 million qualifying offer from Golden State that expires Oct. 1.”
At 22, Kuminga still offers plenty of upside. And Chicago, headed nowhere fast, could represent a great opportunity for him to get some major run in a low-stress environment, unlike a win-now Warriors squad where his minutes and role have frequently been moved around.
In 47 bouts for Golden State last season, the 6-foot-8 pro averaged 15.3 points on .454/.305/.668 shooting splits, 4.6 boards and 2.2 dimes per bout.
“Make no mistake: Kuminga’s preference at this stage would be hashing out a longer deal that both parties can live with, but there simply hasn’t been much movement in those talks,” Fischer writes. “Sources say that there has been little substantive dialogue between the two sides since it emerged weeks ago that the Warriors were pushing a two-year, $45 million deal structure in which Golden State holds a team option for Year 2 and strips Kuminga of the right to grant consent on trades in Year 1.”
MORE NEWS: Blockbuster 3-team Bulls trade idea sees Chicago ditch fan favorite star
