Every player that enters the NBA has some potential. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have a place in the NBA. Yet, some young players have more potential than others. At the same time, some young players never meet their potential.
Often, that’s because they don’t get the right opportunities. Young players need a delicate balance of variables to best foster their talents. They need reps in order to develop, but they also may benefit from being in a winning environment. With that in mind, the Golden State Warriors have struggled to strike that balance in recent years.
That makes sense. The Warriors have been contending – they haven’t had developmental minutes to spare for their young players. The Warriors already traded James Wiseman. Recently, it’s been suggested that they could trade Jonathan Kuminga soon as well. Could they send him to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Jonathan Kuminga, G Corey Joseph
Golden State Warriors Receive: G/F Alex Caruso
Some players fall short of expectations. By contrast, others exceed them. Every player has his own developmental arch. Make predictions about young NBA players at your own risk.
For example, look at the Bulls’ Zach LaVine. As a rookie on the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was hard to watch LaVine and see a future star. Sure, he was hyper-athletic. LaVine’s skill development was far behind his peers. Fans around the league were not all optimistic about LaVine’s potential.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Golden State Warriors Updates
Look at him now. LaVine is one of the best scorers in the NBA. This is a bonafide star player. On the other hand, he hasn’t looked quite like a franchise player. That’s a higher bar, and if last year’s Bulls team was any indication, LaVine doesn’t clear it. Could the Bulls start rebuilding as a result?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
As we see it, the Bulls have two options. They can rebuild, or they can retool around LaVine. Staying the course does not feel viable. The Bulls were woefully disappointing in 2022-23. Why would next season be any different?
In all likelihood, it won’t. With that said, there’s a meaningful difference between last season and this one. Last year, the Bulls owed their first-round pick to the Orlando Magic. This year, they’ve got their own pick. The Bulls’ surprisingly stout defense will fall apart without Caruso next year. That’s fine – they’ll likely have a high lottery pick to show for it.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Golden State Warriors Updates
In the meantime, they’re also landing Kuminga here. He’s flashed the potential to be one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. If the Bulls can help him develop properly, they could be trading a role player for a star here. Should the Warriors risk watching that happen?
Why The Golden State Warriors Do The Deal
We could ask a similar question about the Warriors. They haven’t been able to give Kuminga meaningful minutes for the last two seasons. Why is that going to change in 2023-24?
In all likelihood, it won’t. Meanwhile, Kuminga isn’t getting any younger. It seems like he feels his career slipping away in Golden State. It won’t come as a surprise if he and his camp seek a trade this year. So, why not flip him for Caruso?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Golden State Warriors Updates
After all, he’s arguably the best defensive guard in the NBA. Meanwhile, the Warriors are light on point-of-attack defense. Here, they’re adding one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the league. Kuminga may have tremendous potential, but Caruso is ready to contribute right now.
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