Last summer, the Bulls front office went all in on a deal that signaled the start of a new era in Chicago, sending two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for 21-year-old elite playmaker, Josh Giddey. The trade became more significant than it appeared at the time. It was the Bulls’ first player-for-player deal since 2021, when they sent Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland in exchange for Derrick Jones Jr. and a protected first-round pick.

Fast forward one year, and the benefits of the trade are already starting to show. Giddey looked far more comfortable in a system that allowed him to be the primary ball handler, and by the second half of the 2024-25 season, he was playing at an All-Star level. Add in the four-year extension he signed this summer, and Giddey has firmly established himself as Chicago’s point guard of the future.

The Bulls nearly traded for a different young prospect

However, ESPN’s Shams Charania’s recent report reminds Bulls fans how differently things could have played out.

According to his report, the Bulls were engaged in trade discussions with the Golden State Warriors centered around Alex Caruso. However, the Warriors refused to include Jonathan Kuminga in any deal. That small detail shows just how close Chicago came to taking a very different path, ultimately leading them to pivot toward Josh Giddey and the Thunder.

On paper, Giddey and Kuminga are both valuable young prospects. Yet, they bring very different skillsets to the table. Kuminga is an explosive wing with major defensive upside and the kind of physical tools and athleticism that jump off the screen.

Giddey, on the other hand, is an all-around jumbo guard with some of the best playmaking skills in the league. Both are 22 years old, yet their skill sets and developmental paths are what set them apart. Kuminga fits the mold of the modern two-way forward, while Giddey provides Chicago with a unique blend of size and vision in the backcourt.

The bigger difference, though, comes down to team mentality and fit. Reports out of Golden State indicate that Kuminga has grown increasingly frustrated with his role, resulting in his name being thrown around in trade conversations. If Chicago had landed him, those frustrations might have followed him to the Bulls. Instead, they ended up with a player who has embraced the opportunity to grow with the team. While negotiations for Giddey’s extension took several months, the end result was a team-friendly deal that locks in a player who clearly wants to be part of the franchise.

That’s where the Bulls caught a break. Talent is obviously of the essence when building a contending basketball team, but fit and mentality are arguably just as important. Chicago desperately needs young stars, and they found one with all-star potential who is also committed to being with the franchise in Giddey. That combination is worth more than it appears.

It raises the question: five years from now, will the Bulls regret missing out on Kuminga’s immediate fit and long-term ceiling, or will they look back at Giddey as the smarter, safer investment to build around?