What the Bulls’ Josh Giddey deal could mean for Jonathan Kuminga and Golden State Warriors
The contract saga between the Chicago Bulls and Josh Giddey has finally been resolved.
The Bulls announced they successfully re-signed Josh Giddey to a guaranteed four-year, $100 million deal with no player or team options.
Giddey avoided Cam Thomas’ situation of signing a qualifying offer with the Brooklyn Nets, instead accepting the contract despite reportedly wanting around $30 million per year.
His signing leaves only Jonathan Kuminga’s situation with the Golden State Warriors among this summer’s major contract standoffs.
Just in: Restricted free agent Josh Giddey has reached agreement on a four-year, $100 million deal to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, agent Daniel Moldovan of Lighthouse Sports Management tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/RtJqf7P679
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 9, 2025
Brett Siegel reports Josh Giddey deal creates blueprint for Jonathan Kuminga’s Warriors negotiations
NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed that Giddey’s contract directly impacts Kuminga’s ongoing saga with Golden State.
The deal establishes a market range that Kuminga and his representatives have been pursuing in their negotiations.
“For those wondering, this does have an impact on the Kuminga market, as this has been the range in which Kuminga and his camp have been trying to get the Warriors to reach a compromise with a player option,” Siegel wrote.
For those wondering, this does have an impact on the Kuminga market, as this has been the range in which Kuminga and his camp have been trying to get the Warriors to reach a compromise with a player option.
Still nothing trending in the right direction.
Now, back to vacation. https://t.co/nr81ly8tpc— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) September 9, 2025
Reports indicate Kuminga already rejected a two-year, $45 million offer from the Warriors.
Beyond wanting more money, Kuminga opposed the team option structure because he prefers controlling his future rather than allowing the Warriors to decide his fate.
Giddey’s new deal represents the ideal contract structure Kuminga desires, though it may not align with what the Warriors want to offer.
Josh Giddey’s Bulls role contrasts with Kuminga’s Warriors fit concerns
Giddey holds advantages in his Bulls negotiations that Kuminga lacks with Golden State.
He became Chicago’s cornerstone after Zach LaVine’s departure, proving his worth with career-high averages of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists last season.
The 22-year-old guard established himself as a franchise building block, justifying his significant investment from the Bulls organization.
Meanwhile, Kuminga continues seeking his place as another weapon for the Warriors but appears to struggle fitting within the system built around Stephen Curry.
His role uncertainty complicates his contract d
Oilers Cleared in Evander Kane LTIR Investigation
The NHL has closed its investigation into the Edmonton Oilers' usage of long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and found no wrongdoing, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters Tuesday. As a result, the Oilers will not receive any punishment, either retroactive or for the upcoming season.
The investigation centered on Edmonton's handling of forward Evander Kane, who did not play at all during the regular season but returned for Game 2 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. He then scored six goals and 12 points in 21 playoff games while averaging 16:29 of ice time to help the Oilers reach their second-straight Stanley Cup Final, where they once again lost to the Florida Panthers.
Kane being on LTIR took his $5.125 million cap hit off the Oilers' books, which helped them acquire defenseman Jake Walman and forward Trent Frederic at the trade deadline. The Oilers were far from the first team to use this loophole to add players at the deadline, but for unknown reasons, the league decided to look into their usage of it more closely.
The league is set to close this loophole with the new CBA, which won't fully go into effect until the 2026-27 season, but some changes are already going into effect this season.
Starting this season, teams will be retired to ice a cap-compliant lineup for each playoff game, whereas the salary cap previously ceased to take effect once the postseason rolled around. Teams such as the Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights have iced lineups far above the cap in previous years, though not without significant controversy.
Teams will also receive less LTIR relief for injured players, now capping out at around $3.8 million for one player instead of their full cap hit. This has already had major ramifications around the league, most recently forcing the Montreal Canadiens to trade the contract of legendary goaltender Carey Price after previously having his entire $10.5 million cap hit off the books for the past few years.
The Oilers traded Kane, 34, to the Vancouver Canucks this offseason in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick. The trade was mostly to clear his salary with major extensions due over the next year and change.
Kane scored 62 goals and 111 points in 162 regular season games during his time in Edmonton, plus 26 goals and 42 points in 68 postseason games.
