The Bulls traded Alex Caruso on Thursday in trade for Thunder guard Josh Giddey, a supply confirmed to NBC Sports activities Chicago’s Okay.C. Johnson.
Giddey, 21, is an Australian-born, 6-foot-8 guard going into his fourth yr within the NBA. Initially, he was drafted with the No. 6 decide within the 2021 NBA Draft by the Thunder.
He is a powerful ground common and a artful, pass-first guard with impeccable measurement for his place. Giddey can fill the stat sheet with ease, as he is averaged 13.9 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists over the primary three years of his NBA profession.
Nonetheless, his capturing wants work. His offensive work is outstanding in transition and creatively ending across the rim. However his exterior capturing is grim, as he shot 31% from downtown final season. To his credit score, it is improved from the 26.3% he completed along with his rookie season.
How does he match with the Bulls?
That is the query Artūras Karnišovas should reply with further strikes this offseason. The Bulls’ backcourt stays the way it was earlier than they traded Caruso: crowded. With Giddey, Coby White and Lonzo Ball, the Bulls have arguably an excessive amount of to work with within the backcourt.
Coby White is coming off a profession yr that noticed him end with the league’s third-most minutes performed. He completed the season averaging 19.1 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per sport on 44.7% capturing from the sector and 37.6% capturing from downtown. There isn’t any query he is a part of the Bulls’ big-picture plan.
As for Ball, he is hoping to make a historic return to the ground after lacking the final 2.5 years with ongoing knee accidents. He is undergone three separate surgical procedures on his proper knee, which have stored him sidelined since January 2022. The Bulls are hoping he can return to the ground this season.
Since Ball’s absence, it is felt just like the workforce has wanted a half-court organizer who may help gamers get right into a rhythm, gather the ground, deal with the ball and manufacture offense in transition. That is largely what Giddey can do on the offensive aspect of the ball, which begs the query of Ball’s presence on the workforce.
In buying and selling for Giddey, the Bulls inhale the ultimate yr of his rookie deal, which is slated to earn him $8.3 million this season. He is rookie extension eligible till the beginning of subsequent season. If no extension is reached, he’ll grow to be a restricted free agent subsequent summer season.
It is price noting final season Giddey was accused of sustaining an inappropriate relationship with an underage woman. However in January, The Newport Seaside, California, Police Division mentioned that it was “unable to corroborate any prison exercise.” Giddey by no means confronted any punishment from the league and performed by the accusations.
That is doubtless simply the beginning of a transformative offseason for the Bulls. Vice President Artūras Karnišovas admitted in April the core at hand “hasn’t labored” and “all the things is on the desk” for adjustments this offseason.
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