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| Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. Photo: Getty Images. |
Kuminga is still a restricted free agent, but the market has been anything but favorable. With limited cap space across the league, few teams can realistically present him with an offer sheet. That leaves two choices on the table: sign the deal the Warriors are offering or take the $7.9 million qualifying offer, play out the season, and hit unrestricted free agency next summer — just as Isaiah Thomas once did.
#BullsNation, I feel like this might be Groundhog Day because Jonathan Kuminga is once again in the news cycle for the #ChicagoBulls.
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bulls (@JAYChi_Bulls) September 13, 2025
However, with Josh Giddey now signed, the discussion is slightly different.
We might take Jake Fischer reports with a grain of salt, but the… pic.twitter.com/Tj5ZWSHvp3
That’s where Chicago comes into play. The Bulls are projected to open up significant cap space in 2026, positioning them as one of the few teams capable of making a real run at Kuminga if he chooses to bet on himself.
“Don’t rule out Chicago completely,” Fischer wrote. “The Bulls will have the flexibility next summer that didn’t exist this year, and that’s one reason Kuminga’s camp is strongly weighing the qualifying offer route.”
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| Jonathan Kuminga. Photo: Getty Images. |
The Bulls, of course, made their own splash earlier this offseason by securing Josh Giddey on a four-year, $100 million deal. Pairing a versatile playmaker like Giddey with a young, athletic forward such as Kuminga could set the stage for an intriguing new core in the Windy City.
For now, however, Kuminga remains in limbo. The Warriors haven’t found acceptable sign-and-trade packages from suitors like Phoenix or Sacramento, and whispers of a strained relationship with head coach Steve Kerr only fuel speculation that the former lottery pick’s time in the Bay could be nearing its end.
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| Jonathan Kuminga. Photo: Getty Images. |
Kuminga is coming off his best statistical season yet, averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 47 games while shooting 45.4% from the field. But despite his steady rise, Golden State’s playoff run ended in disappointment, bowing out to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference semifinals.
The seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has until October 1 to make his decision. Whether he stays in Golden State or plays the long game toward Chicago, Kuminga’s next move could reshape not only his own career, but the future of two franchises.