Chicago Bulls Could Be ‘Future Landing Spot’ for Jonathan Kuminga

The Chicago Bulls could be a “future landing” spot for Jonathan Kuminga, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

Kuminga remains a restricted free agent. He could sign the qualifying offer with the Golden State Warriors and then become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, when the Bulls will have a lot of cap space.

“Don’t dismiss Chicago completely as a future landing spot for Jonathan Kuminga,” Fischer wrote. “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. 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.”

The Bulls signed Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100 million contract. Giddey was a restricted free agent like Kuminga, who wants to leave the Warriors.

However, since there are no teams with cap space to sign Kuminga to an offer sheet and the Warriors aren’t interested in what the Phoenix Suns or Sacramento Kings have offered them in sign-and-trade discussions, Kuminga is stuck with the Dubs.

The 22-year-old Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, sources told DallasHoopsJournal. At this point in the offseason, Kuminga either has to sign the contract Golden State is offering him or play next season on the $7.9 million qualifying offer.

Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks for Golden State last season in 47 games, shooting 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. The Warriors lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semifinals in five games.

A one-time champion, Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Warriors.

Kuminga has until October 1 to sign his qualifying offer for next season.