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Bulls Should Swap Jonathan Kuminga for Coby White
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Bulls Should Swap Jonathan Kuminga for Coby White

Originally posted on The Lead  |  By Justin Butler  |  Last updated Jul 7, 2025 4:27 PM ET

The Chicago Bulls are stuck in NBA mediocrity as a perennial play-in loser with no clear path toward contention.

Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley can change that by closing a deal that sends Coby White, Julian Phillips and cash to the Golden State Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga.

This move, along with drafting Noa Essengue and trading for Isaac Okoro, would show full buy-in to Josh Giddey’s unique style and would set the Bulls up for a brighter future.

A Stagnant Roster in Flux

DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso have all been shipped out. That means Karnisovas’ initial vision of rebuilding this franchise will soon be a distant, unremarkable memory.

All who remain from this regime’s plan are Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams. Vucevic, who’s been more than serviceable in his role, is on an expiring deal and might be bought out. Williams, who has four more guaranteed years, has been put on notice that his time in Chicago could be fading.

So that brings us to White, whom the organization was hesitant to fully embrace as a full-time starter.

White appears to have settled into his role, and his growth over the last two years has been exponential. But at 25 years old, the Bulls have not readily embraced him as a franchise cornerstone.

And his name has continued to be mentioned in trade talks the past two summers, despite his recent averages of 20.4 points while shooting 37% from three.

Packaging White, the still raw but extremely athletic Julian Phillips, and cash to the Warriors for Kuminga makes sense.

It would be a small price to pay to help the Bulls redefine their trajectory.

Building Around Giddey’s Magic Like Vision

Josh Giddey is the Bulls’ point guard of the future. Over the last 30 games of the year, he averaged 19.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game.

And at 6-foot-8, he evoked memories of Magic Johnson’s ability to orchestrate a fast-paced offense.

Those thoughts might offend some. But it shouldn’t. It was a pleasure watching the Showtime Lakers and their beautiful blend of passing and finishing at the rim.

And more importantly…it was effective.

Chicago played the second-fastest pace last season. Giddey’s pass-first style would thrive even more with athletic wings that can run the floor and finish in traffic.

At 6-foot-7, Kuminga fits that mold, having averaged 15.3 points in the regular season and 20.8 in the playoffs. His rim-attacking ability pairs perfectly with Giddey’s vision, creating easy lobs and transition buckets.

Kuminga, Matas, and Essengue: A Dynamic Frontcourt

Kuminga brings playoff-proven scoring and two-way versatility, as evidenced by his defensive matchups with Anthony Edwards.

Matas Buzelis, the only Bull to receive any NBA awards last year, averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 31 starts last year.

Noa Essengue, the Bulls’ No. 12 2025 pick, is another intriguing prospect. He’s only 18 years old, but his 6-foot-10 stature and 7-foot-1 wingspan were on full display in Germany’s EuroCup, where he averaged 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The potential grouping of all three in Chicago could create a long, switchable trio that fits Giddey’s preferred up-tempo style.

It would also create a defensive and offensive nightmare for opposing teams to deal with.

Warriors’ Motivation

Golden State is focused on maximizing Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler’s title window. Kuminga’s inconsistent role makes him tradeable.

White’s 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game would provide immediate scoring, playmaking and three-point shooting. Phillips’ raw athletic ability would fill the void left by Kuminga.

The cash could help offset their tax burden. And if they achieve their goals, they would retain White’s Bird Rights, allowing them to sign him as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

The Numbers Align

A deal to acquire Kuminga would likely be made via a sign-and-trade. A $25 million annual salary deal means the Warriors could take back $12.5 million under base-year compensation rules.

Using White’s $12.9 million and Phillips’ $2 million, with cash covering gaps, could help the Bulls stay under the first apron and allow the Warriors to absorb the cost.

The Franchise Changing Leap

The Bulls can’t afford to stay stuck in neutral. The trio of Kuminga, Matas, and Essengue would give Giddey the weapons he needs to have optimal success.

White’s production is valuable, but his expiring deal makes him expendable. And by trading him, Chicago can fully commit to a young, athletic core.

Arturas, this is your shot at a second vision of building a contender.

Coffee’s for closers, so close the deal.

This article first appeared on The Lead and was syndicated with permission.

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