Ok. I know the easy answer to that question is another 39 and 43 season... but I've already established that I'm a glutton for punishment.
The Bulls finally made the no-brainer move (I honestly think that is redundant as their front office clearly has no brain) of resigning Josh Giddey for four years and $100 million. It was basically a forgone conclusion three months ago that is exactly what he'd sign for but the Bulls being the Bulls, they decided to drag it out so they couldn't possibly make any other movies this off season... or could they?
After making all of their off season move (that is not a spelling error, they only really made 1 move and it was to resign the only asset they got back for last year's most valuable asset Alex Caruso) the Bulls actually have a little money to play with. They are $21,364,000 under the "1st Apron" where punishments set in for daring to pay your players what they are worth on the open market. The Bulls also have the mid-level and Bi-annual exemptions worth $14,100,000 and $5,100,000 respectively. That means the Bulls could sign a player to a 1 year $14 million or 1 year $5 million contract.
Thanks to waiting until the last minute to finalize a deal that should have been finalized in June, there are slim pickings for the Bulls. There is Precious Achiuwa (who doesn't have much to offer except a really cool name), Bol Bol (who has a cool name, 7'3" of height and a weird desire to shoot threes), Al Horford (who is nine million years old), David Duke Jr. (who has the most unfortunate name in all of sports... or the world), Russel Westbrook (the most overrated player in the history of NBA and the best loser in the league), and Jonathan Kuminga... [insert record scratch noise here].
This is not a hug, this is Kerr pushing Kuminga out the door.
Is that the same Jonathan Kuminga that the Warriors have jerked around all summer? The same Kuminga who the Bulls have been linked to since January? The same Kuminga who was picked 1 pick after Josh Giddey and 6 picks before fellow Bull Chris Duarte (yes he is apparently on their roster)? Teh same Kuminga who the Warriors are only offering the qualifying offer of $7.9 million? Obviously it's him. So why don't the Bulls just use that $14 million that is sitting there in Jerry Reinsdorf's pocket to sign Jonathan Kuminga.
Will this make the Bulls contenders? Oh god no! They are a dumpster fire. They need way more help than that. But what it will do is give them an asset to trade at the deadline. You can't trade $14 million but you can trade a scoring threat like Kuminga. So here's the plan. Bulls sign Kuminga to a one year deal and start him at small forward. TheyrRun him in Billy Donovan's "system" which involves running up the court as fast as possible to chuck up a shot and then run back and let the other team score fast so you can do it all again. Kuminga will average 24 points in this "system" and will look like he's worth a first round pick. The Bulls are stupid and would never take a valuable first round pick, but at least they can get something in return for him.
Sometimes I dream...