The Chicago Bulls chose to hold onto veteran center Nikola Vučević at the last trade deadline after being underwhelmed by the offers on the table.
However, with Vučević entering the final year of his contract, the Bulls may use his expiring deal this offseason to acquire a younger player—similar to how they flipped Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton recently floated a scenario where Chicago engages in a sign-and-trade to acquire Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
“The Bulls could try to put together a sign-and-trade, perhaps sending Nikola Vucevic to the Warriors and placing Kuminga in a role similar to the one DeMar DeRozan once played in the Windy City,” Pelton suggested.
At just 22 years old, Kuminga is shaping up to be Golden State’s biggest offseason storyline. If the Warriors decide to move on from the promising forward, they could revisit previous interest in Vučević.
Bulls, Warriors Had Trade Discussions Around Vučević
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Warriors were “at the front of the line” for Vučević in the lead-up to the trade deadline, though Chicago was seeking a first-round pick in return. Golden State ultimately pivoted and pulled off a blockbuster deal to land six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, which gave them a strong push late in the season before they fell to the Timberwolves in the second round.
With Golden State’s ongoing need for frontcourt depth, the Bulls remain a logical trade partner, particularly with Kuminga not fitting seamlessly into Steve Kerr’s veteran-heavy, win-now rotation.
Kuminga made a strong impression when given more opportunity—especially during the final four games of the season when Stephen Curry was sidelined. He averaged 24.3 points while shooting 55.4% from the field and 38.9% from three during that stretch against Minnesota.
Vučević’s Future in Chicago Uncertain
The 34-year-old Vučević just wrapped up his fifth season in Chicago, putting up solid numbers: 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while hitting 40.2% from three-point range. He and Lonzo Ball are the last remaining veterans from the Bulls’ last playoff appearance.
During his end-of-season press conference, Vučević hinted that his time in Chicago may be coming to an end.
“There are some good, young pieces that can be built around,” he said. “There are a lot of questions when you’re a team not fighting for the top… I’m at the stage in my career where I’m trying to win now… It all depends on what their timeline is and how they see this team.”
A No-Brainer Move?
If the Bulls can flip Vučević’s expiring contract for a high-upside talent like Kuminga, it would be a no-brainer. Kuminga could develop into a foundational piece alongside Coby White and Josh Giddey, giving Chicago a dynamic trio to build around for the future.