Steve Kerr, Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga
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Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors walks off the court after losing the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on November 7, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.
Jonathan Kuminga became trade-eligible on Thursday. The Golden State Warriors have been linked to multiple potential deals. But one name that keeps coming up is apparently not of interest to the Warriors.
According to insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors are not interested in trading Kuminga for Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.
“I’ve gotten it pretty reliably that Nikola Vucevic is not going to be enough to make something happen there, for Golden State to send Kuminga to Chicago,” Fischer said during a live stream earlier this week.
That is a telling decision from the Warriors. Vucevic is a two-time All-Star averaging 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. He can shoot from three (38.0% this season) and has decent passing ability (3.7 assists per game). On paper, he seems like a solid fit for Golden State’s system.
But the Warriors are passing. And there are good reasons why.
Why the Warriors Are Right to Avoid Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty ImagesNikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
Vucevic might put up decent numbers, but he does not solve the Warriors’ biggest problems.
The main issue is his lack of athleticism. Golden State already struggles in that area, and adding Vucevic would only make things worse. At 34 years old, he is not the kind of player who can keep up with the pace and movement that the Warriors’ offense demands.
His defensive limitations are even more concerning. Vucevic struggles when switching onto guards on the perimeter. He is also overwhelmed by longer, more athletic players who can score in the paint. According to Cleaning the Glass, his teams have been worse defensively with him on the floor in five of the last seven seasons.
That is a major red flag for a Warriors team that has built one of the league’s top defenses this season. Adding Vucevic would compromise that strength. The Warriors cannot afford to sacrifice their defensive identity for a player who does not move the needle offensively.
Offensively, Vucevic is a decent finisher. He averages 8.6 points in the paint per game, per NBA.com. But he does not provide rim pressure. He is not explosive enough to create easy scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. The Bulls actually have a better offensive rebounding rate when he is off the floor, which tells you everything you need to know about his impact in that area.
For a Warriors team that needs athleticism, defensive versatility, and rim pressure, Vucevic is not the answer.
What Jake Fischer Said About the Kuminga Trade Market
Jonathan Kuminga trade rumors, Golden State Warriors trade, Steph Curry injury update
GettyJonathan Kuminga is expected to be traded from the Golden State Warriors before the deadline.
Fischer’s comments on Tuesday painted a clear picture of where things stand with Kuminga.
“There’s not a very robust market” for Kuminga, Fischer said. He mentioned that the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers are interested, but neither team has players the Warriors would want in return.
That means Golden State will likely need to orchestrate a three-team trade to get the kind of return they are looking for. Fischer specifically mentioned the Bulls as a team the Warriors should engage with, but not for Vucevic.
“What type of three-team agreement can Golden State manufacture here? Will they be able to find something with Chicago? There’s been a ton of noise about Coby White,” Fischer said. “Is there some type of connection between Chicago, who has definitely liked Kuminga in the past?”
Coby White is a much more appealing target for the Warriors. He is 25 years old, athletic, and has averaged 19.6 points and 4.8 assists over the last three years. The problem is that White is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Bulls want to re-sign him, but they can only offer approximately $89 million over four years due to CBA restrictions. White is expected to want more than that, which creates uncertainty.
If the Warriors can get White as part of a three-team trade, it would make more sense than taking on Vucevic. But even then, Golden State is already guard-heavy, and at 6’4″, White is not capable of defending bigger wings. That limits his fit in the Warriors’ rotation.
Could the Bulls Facilitate a Three-Team Michael Porter Jr. Trade?
Michael Porter Jr.
GettyMichael Porter Jr. is in his first season with the Brooklyn Nets.
The Warriors’ ideal target remains Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets.
Porter is averaging 25.9 points per game this season while shooting 40.8% from three on high volume. He is 6’10”, which gives him the size and length the Warriors desperately need on the wing. He can space the floor, score at all three levels, and has championship experience from his time with the Denver Nuggets.
The problem is that the Nets have shown no interest in acquiring Kuminga. That means the Warriors need to find a third team that wants Kuminga and has assets Brooklyn would accept in return.
The Bulls make sense as that third team. Chicago has expressed interest in Kuminga in the past, and they have players like White who could appeal to the Nets.
Joe Akeley of Sports Illustrated recently floated a potential three-team framework that could work:
Warriors Get: Michael Porter Jr., Dalen Terry
Bulls Get: Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Knicks‘ 2027 first-round pick (via Bulls)
Nets Get: Coby White, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, 2026 unprotected first-round pick (via Warriors), 2028 unprotected first-round pick (via Warriors)
This trade works for all three teams. The Warriors get the scoring wing they need. The Bulls get Kuminga, a young forward with upside. The Nets get two unprotected first-round picks and a chance to evaluate White before he hits free agency this summer.
The challenge is whether the Nets would rather wait until the offseason to pursue White in free agency rather than giving up assets to acquire him now. If Brooklyn wants to get a three-month look at White before deciding whether to pay him, this trade could make sense.
What the Warriors Must Decide Now That Kuminga Is Trade-Eligible
Kuminga became trade-eligible on Thursday. The Warriors now have the flexibility to move him at any point between now and the February 6 trade deadline.
If they can land Porter, they should pull the trigger. He is the kind of player who can help Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler compete for a championship right now. He spaces the floor, scores at a high level, and provides the size and length Golden State has been missing for years.
If the Porter trade falls through, the Warriors will have to explore other options. But Vucevic should not be one of them. He does not solve any of Golden State’s problems, and he would make their roster even less athletic and less versatile.
The Warriors need to be patient. The trade deadline is not until February 6, which gives them time to find the right deal. But if they are going to move Kuminga, it needs to be for a player who actually fits what they are trying to do.
Final Word for the Warriors
The Warriors are right to pass on Nikola Vucevic.
He is not a bad player. But he is not the kind of player who moves the needle for a team trying to maximize Steph Curry’s final years. Vucevic would make Golden State slower, less athletic, and more vulnerable defensively.
If the Warriors are going to trade Kuminga, they need to get back a player who can help them win now. Michael Porter Jr. fits that description. Coby White could work in the right deal. But Vucevic does not.
The trade deadline is approaching fast. The Warriors have decisions to make. And the first decision they have already made is that Nikola Vucevic is not the answer.