UPDATE:At the trade deadline, Bulls “inquired” about a $25 million former Top 10 pick.

The Chicago Bulls faced yet another quiet trade deadline this year. It included guarantees on the attempts to enlarge the current core group.

Among those attempts was the pursuit of a trade for forward Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.

NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported on February 8 that “league sources said the Bulls inquired about Jonathan Kuminga’s availability in exploratory trade talks with the Golden State Warriors centered on [Alex] Caruso.” “It was rejected.”

In 2020, Kuminga, 21, was selected seventh overall. Ayo Dosunmu, a guard with the Bulls, was selected in the same round (No. 38 overall).

With 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, he is averaging career highs.

Kuminga was the subject of trade rumors in the third year of his four-year, $24.8 million contract after voicing dissatisfaction with his role under Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

“After watching the last eighteen minutes of Thursday night’s game… Jonathan Kuminga, a forward with the Golden State Warriors, has lost trust in head coach Steve Kerr, Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported on January 5. “Sources close to Kuminga tell The Athletic that the 2021 lottery pick no longer believes Kerr will allow him to reach his full potential.”

At that point in the season, Kuminga’s average minutes per game was little over 22.

In 15 games played since then, he has averaged 32 minutes per game. In addition, he recorded 10 starts during that span, following a total of 12 over the season’s first 33 games.

Regarding Kuminga’s trade possibility, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy described him as “as untouchable as guys can be in this league,” as Slater reported on February 8. “I couldn’t imagine a situation in which Jonathan would leave our team before this deadline.”

Bulls Messaged Alex Caruso, Requesting His Help
The Bulls may have been trying to send a statement by requesting Kuminga, even though he would have added youth and agility to the team’s frontcourt.

particularly to the Warriors, who had been interested in Caruso since the previous campaign.

“The Bulls expressed to all teams that they were unwilling to trade Caruso, particularly in exchange for a package that could include other young players like Moses Moody,” Johnson wrote. “Any offer to do so would have to floor them.”
That was supported by head coach Billy Donovan’s remarks prior to the Bulls’ eventual victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on February 8.

According to Donovan, “I believe Alex Caruso is one of the most valuable players in the NBA,” Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune said on February 8. “I believe you should get him a haul. Players like Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan simply don’t appear out of nowhere.

Given how the Bulls have handled their players over the last three years, particularly Caruso, and their draft picks, it’s difficult to predict what they planned to give up for Kuminga.

Bulls Hope to Keep DeMar DeRozan in Place
Arturas Karnisovas, the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, expressed his desire to re-sign DeRozan to a new deal.

DeRozan is in the latter year of a $81.9 million, three-year contract.

In his post-deadline press conference, Karnisovas stated, “Yes, I love DeMar,” according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. He’s important to this group, this city, and this organization. We’ve been closer to him. I believe it’s fantastic for this team, and maybe we can hold onto him when the time comes.

If “the money is right,” DeRozan is also willing to come back, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic on February 9.

DeRozan is also in it for the victory. After beginning the season with a 5-14 record, the Bulls have gone 20-13. That may have strengthened DeRozan’s purported conviction that money is the decisive element and strengthened Karnisovas’ faith.