It was no great surprise when Oklahoma City announced on Friday that Josh Giddey had been shipped out.
The turn-up for the books was that he was headed to Chicago for veteran guard Alex Caruso in a rare one for one trade involving two players and no draft picks either way.
Bulls fans have been an eternally frustrated bunch since the Michael Jordan golden era ended in the late 1990s and the consensus reaction has been one of anger that their franchise has let Caruso go to the Thunder for Giddey without getting anything else in return.
Short term, the Thunder will definitely get the best out of this deal.
Both players are off contract after next season and all going well, likely to stick around at their new team.
For OKC, a team that was already on the rise and a second-tier title contender is now even stronger with Caruso to give their franchise cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a complementary backcourt partner.
It was patently clear after Giddey’s minutes rapidly dropped as the post-season wore on that he was not the ideal foil for SGA.
Both players need the ball in their hands to create plays but only SGA can put it in the basket at an all-NBA level and with Caruso happy to let him lead, it’s a win-win situation for the Thunder.
OKC GM Sam Presti’s media statement in announcing the trade stated that when they “began our internal discussions this off-season, it was determined that bringing Josh off the bench next season was our best option to maximise his many talents and deploy our team more efficiently over 48 minutes”.
Translation: Hey Josh, if you stick around, we’re going to relegate you to a bench role.
Josh Giddey. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
“As we laid out to Josh how he could lean into his strengths and ultimately optimise our current roster and talent, it was hard for him to envision, and conversations turned to him inquiring about potential opportunities elsewhere.”
Which means Giddey’s response was: No way, mate. Trade me.
His prospects of winning a championship early in his career have taken a massive hit but his chances of developing into a star in the NBA have greatly improved now that he is heading to Chicago.
But it won’t be easy at a team that is in flux.
Coby White was the most improved player in the NBA last season and is also a ball-dominant guard. But he and Giddey could co-exist.
White is a bona fide scorer who should be freed up by Giddey running the offence while on the defensive side of the ball, the 21-year-old Australian’s extra height will make up for his fellow guard’s defensive and rebounding limitations.
At 24, White is a similar age to Giddey and they can be building blocks for the Bulls but it will take several years before they are anywhere near championship contention.
The Bulls have been mediocre, modest and middling over the past nine years, finishing between ninth and 13th every season apart from a high point of sixth in 2021-22 when they were bounced in the first round by Milwaukee.
They need to take a couple of steps backwards and restock their roster with draft talent after getting nowhere of note with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and the injury-plagued Lonzo Ball.
DeRozan, Chicago’s best player, is a free agent and at 34, there is no reason for him to stick around if he seriously wants to get a ring before retiring.
Bulls kingpin Artūras Karnišovas has sent out mixed messages in the off-season by saying they want to win but sending Caruso to OKC suggests they are pivoting towards a rebuild.
They have been trying to offload LaVine and the remaining three years of his lucrative deal but are going to have to sell low on the former All-Star after a season of injuries and erratic form.
Vucevic has another two years on his deal at $20 million a pop but with his offensive output waning on top of his questionable defence, the Bulls won’t be able to get much in return for the 33-year-old Montenegro centre.
Even if the Bulls are able to re-sign DeRozan and try one last hurrah with LaVine and Vucevic, they won’t be a legit contender in the Eastern Conference and it would only delay the inevitable transition phase that they need to undergo.
They need to give Giddey and White the keys to the team as quickly as possible and move on from the previous iteration of their team.
White has proved he is worth the risk but season one in the Windy City will be crucial for Giddey.
The No.6 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is eligible for a rookie extension and the Bulls will be able to match any offers for their unrestricted free agent.
It’s up to Giddey now to prove he is worth a mega deal at Chicago after his numbers dropped from 16.6 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in his second year at OKC to 12.3, 6.4 and 4.8 last season.
Giddey prefers to play at a fast tempo and so does Bulls coach Billy Donovan. After being one of the least interesting playoff sides in recent years, the Bulls could be about to get a lot more fun to watch even if the wins could drop off as they move into a new era.
He struggled to remain focused last season as he dealt with off-court allegations about an inappropriate relationship with an under-age girl which led to no police charges.
Giddey posted on Instagram to say farewell to OKC and thank team owner Clay Bennett, the franchise and his teammates for standing by him “through the very high highs & the very low lows”.
“Okc… thank you for EVERYTHING. To the city for embracing me from Day 1. To Mr Bennett, Sam & Mark for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of my being an NBA player, I am forever grateful. My brothers, who I got to share the floor with for 3 years. the best group of guys I could’ve imagined.
“Stuck with me through the very high highs & the very low lows. You guys know the real me. I am forever in debt to Oklahoma and no words will do justice to how much the city & the organisation mean to me and my family.”
No NBA player likes to be traded during their rookie deal, particularly when you are leaving a franchise that should be among the contenders for the title next season.
But the switch to the Bulls is a chance for Giddey to make a fresh start and it could turn out to be the best long-term option for him to make the most of his career.
© AAP