The Golden State Warriors have decided not to trade Jonathan Kuminga for the Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, according to insider Jake Fischer. Despite Vucevic being a two-time All-Star, putting up solid numbers, the Warriors feel he doesn’t fit their fast-paced, defensive-minded system.
Jonathan Kuminga officially became trade-eligible on Thursday, sparking a wave of speculation about potential moves for the Golden State Warriors.
While multiple trade scenarios have been linked to the young forward, one name that keeps coming up does not interest the Warriors: Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.
According to insider Jake Fischer, Golden State is not considering a swap of Kuminga for 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 Bleacher Report live stream.
Vucevic is a two-time All-Star, putting up 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this season, with the ability to shoot from three (38.0%) and average 3.7 assists.
Credit Imagn Images – Scanpix
On paper, he seems like a solid fit for Golden State’s system. But the Warriors have decided to pass.
The reasoning comes down to athleticism and fit. At 35 years old, Vucevic is not the type of player who can match the pace and movement Golden State demands in its offense.
Defensively, he struggles to switch onto guards and can be overpowered by more athletic players in the paint. According to Cleaning the Glass, his teams have had weaker defensive ratings 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,” Fischer concluded.
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