For the Chicago Bulls to have a successful offseason, they need to fill in the gaps of the holes in the currently constructed team. While this year's free agent and trade markets aren't as star-studded as in years past, multiple players around the league can come to Chicago and make a significant impact from the jump.
One of those players is Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has proven to be a defensive-minded guard who has seen recent success for the Minnesota Timberwolves this postseason. The other is Jonathan Kuminga, who would likely come to the Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic, as an athletic and explosive wing fitting perfectly with the team's play style.
While neither is the dominant rim protector that Chicago would also love, each fills a hole on the team and provides valuable experience for the Bulls' emerging and young core.
Free Agent: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
If the Bulls want to find an answer to their need for a perimeter defender, they should look no further than Nickeil Alexander-Walker. He is currently playing the most meaningful basketball of his career in the Western Conference Finals with Minnesota, and looks up to the task as a player who can fill multiple holes for a team like Chicago.
Yes, he can be a bit streaky on offense, but the evidence is there for Alexander-Walker as a stout defender who isn't afraid to go head-to-head against an opponent's number one perimeter player. In the first two rounds of these playoffs, he held Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler to a combined 27% shooting from the field.
He has also been a pest against his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this round. Despite still averaging 30 points a game, he has only shot higher than 45% once in the series, with Alexander-Walker as one of his primary defenders in each of the first four games.
In hopes of finding a player similar to Alex Caruso, who can annoy and throw off a team's leading scorer, Alexander-Walker can play that same role.
Offensively, he is averaging 15 points a game on 48% from three-point range against the Oklahoma City Thunder this series. While he has been somewhat inconsistent in these playoffs as a whole, he wouldn't be asked to be a leading scorer in Chicago, and rather more of a spot-up shooter and someone who could get buckets against a bench rotation.
Alexander-Walker is set to be a free agent in the upcoming offseason, and he will no doubt be asking for a big raise from the $4.3 million he made this year. He is only 26 years old, and the Bulls look to be able to sign him to a multi-year deal with their $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception.
Minnesota just won't have the money to pay Alexander-Walker what he is asking for in the offseason, which is where Chicago can step in. He could desperately fill a defensive hole on the team, provide scoring and experience, while fitting in with the timeline of this Bulls squad.
Trade Target: Jonathan Kuminga
While he's had an up-and-down start to his career in Golden State, Jonathan Kuminga is looking more and more like a viable trade option for Chicago. He failed to see much action for the Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs, but after Curry got hurt, he averaged 24.3 points on 55% shooting in their last four games.
In all likelihood, the Bulls would trade Vucevic and another piece to the Bay Area in exchange for Kuminga, who will be a restricted free agent in the upcoming offseason. All indications say that it would be a sign-and-trade deal that would send him to Chicago, but he could be a perfect fit for the team being built now.
"The Bulls could try to put together a sign-and-trade, perhaps sending Nikola Vucevic to the Warriors and placing Kuminga in a role similar to the one DeMar DeRozan once played in the Windy City," Kevin Pelton wrote in his ESPN article on the top free agents in the upcoming offseason.
Kuminga is a career 50% shooter, has a championship under his belt, and is just 22 years old. After the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler at the deadline, the team is prioritizing winning a title as soon as possible, and they don't have the time or money to dedicate to Kuminga at this point.
Kuminga likes to run the floor, which would make him a great addition to Chicago's new fast-paced offense with a player like Josh Giddey. His 6'8" frame makes him versatile, and he is never afraid to go up against the best rim protectors in the league.
While his three-point shooting leaves a lot to be desired, he wouldn't be coming to the team as someone who needs to hit deep shots to be successful. Similar to his shooting, Kuminga wouldn't come to Chicago as a top-caliber defender. Regardless, his size would come as a plus for the Bulls, and he could potentially make gains on that side of the ball after a change in scenery.
Final Thoughts
With Vucevic looking like he is on his way out, the top priority for the Chicago Bulls is finding young players who are capable defenders. While finding a young big man in free agency or the trade market would be ideal, there just aren't a lot of players currently available that would be beneficial for Chicago to go after.
The team is likely to find that type of player in the draft, with Collin Murray-Boyles from South Carolina or Maxime Raynaud from Sanford as potential options to be selected.
That is why it will be best if Chicago goes after wings like Alexander-Walker and Kuminga over the offseason. Both of them will be looking for a payday, but both have proven that they have the talent to contribute to the type of team the Bulls are building.