The Bulls and Heat both have interest in potential sign-and-trade deals for Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Kuminga, who’s eligible for restricted free agency in two weeks, is looking for an “expanded and consistent role” after watching his playing time with Golden State fluctuate throughout the season and the playoffs, Scotto adds.
Scotto notes that the Warriors engaged in trade talks with Chicago regarding center Nikola Vucevic prior to February’s deadline. He now has a $21.48MM expiring contract, and he would provide Golden State with the scoring big man it has been lacking.
Vucevic will turn 35 in October, but he has remained durable and productive, appearing in 73 games this season and averaging 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31.2 minutes per night. Vucevic also shot 40.2% from three-point range and would appear to be a comfortable fit in Steve Kerr’s offense.
Scotto states that the 22-year-old Kuminga would be a much better fit than Vucevic for a Bulls team that wants to get younger. He fills an obvious need as an athletic power forward, and he would have a chance to put up big numbers in Billy Donovan’s up-tempo system.
Scotto describes Kuminga as a “fallback option” for Miami, which is placing a greater priority on Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo if he becomes available while working to acquire Kevin Durant from the Suns. If those pursuits fall through, the Heat could turn their attention to Kuminga as they search for more talent to combine with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
Kuminga wasn’t able to reach an extension agreement with the Warriors last summer, but he looked ready to be a long-term fixture with the team before suffering a severe right ankle sprain in early January that sidelined him for more than two months. By the time he returned, Golden State had traded for Jimmy Butler, which changed the dynamic of the organization.
Kuminga didn’t play at all in the Warriors’ final game, which they needed to win to avoid the play-in tournament, and he was barely used in the first round of the playoffs, except for a brief stretch when Butler was injured.
Regular playing time has been an ongoing issue for Kuminga, who met with Kerr during the middle of the 2023/24 season to express his frustrations. Scotto notes that Kuminga was involved in trade talks when Golden State had hopes of landing Durant in February, and there’s a sense that he might benefit from a change of teams.