The Thunder have officially traded Josh Giddey to the Bulls for Alex Caruso, the two teams confirmed in press releases. Our full trade breakdown from Thursday can be found here.
While Chicago’s statement doesn’t have any quotes from the front office, Thunder head of basketball operations Sam Presti was remarkably transparent, at least from his perspective, about how and why the trade transpired.
“We want to thank Josh for his many contributions to our team and know he will capitalize on the opportunities before him in Chicago.
“When we drafted Josh in 2021 he was an essential aspect of our vision for the next iteration of the Thunder. Since then, our team has evolved rapidly and dynamically in ways we could never have anticipated. Therefore, as we began our internal discussions this offseason, it was determined that bringing Josh off the bench next season was our best option to maximize his many talents and deploy our team more efficiently over 48 minutes.
“As we laid out to Josh how he could lean into his strengths and ultimately optimize our current roster and talent, it was hard to for him to envision, and conversations turned to him inquiring about potential opportunities elsewhere. As always was the case, Josh demonstrated the utmost professionalism throughout the discussions. Josh has All-Star potential, but accessing that in the current construct of the Thunder would not be optimal for the collective. Based on these discussions we decided to move forward and prioritize what was best for the organization.
“Alex Caruso is a player we have always highly valued and followed. He is the quintessential Thunder player; he is an exceptional competitor and teammate with a multi-dimensional skillset. His presence and game will help elevate the core of our team as we continue to strive to build a sustainably elite program in Oklahoma City. Alex is a player that began his professional career with the Thunder/Blue and the opportunity to add him was something we felt would truly enhance our team and culture. We could not be more excited to see Alex in Thunder blue (again).”
A former sixth overall pick who is still only 21 years old, Giddey was brought off the bench for the first time in his career during the Thunder’s second-round series vs. Dallas due to shooting and defensive struggles. The Australian guard/forward, who is a very talented rebounder and passer, will be a restricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign a rookie scale extension with Chicago this offseason.
Caruso, meanwhile, has become one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders, earning All-Defensive team nods each of the past two seasons. He’s also a more accomplished shooter than Giddey, with superior accuracy (38.0% vs. 31.0%) from three-point range during his career. The 30-year-old is headed for unrestricted free agency in 2025 if he doesn’t sign an extension before the 2024/25 campaign ends.
Translation:
“We wanna get the hs girl mess behind us and him…. especially us.”
It was behind them, it was also behind Giddey. There’s no story except for gossip mongers. This was about aquiring a veteran defensive ace that won at the highest level in exchange players whose skills are redundant with those of the best player on the team.
Thanks for clearing that up!
OKC wins this trade if Caruso can stay healthy
I think the Bulls made out well with more control and a higher ceiling with JG.
They traded what could be for what we already know. They needed a dog on the perimeter and Giddey for all his talents wasn’t going to provide them that. Thunder have 100 first round draft picks so giving up a young guy isn’t that big of a deal. I like the deal for both sides. Especially because Chicago needs to look to the future. The Ball injury derailed their timeline
Pretty fair swap where both teams could serve to benefit from it (dependent upon Giddey’s development/Caruso’s health & if re-signs to something that enables OKC to keep the band together). Nice to see a trade without convoluted draft pick protection!
The Chicago Bulls should’ve just traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two first round picks. Getting Josh Giddey don’t move the needle. At least 1 first and two seconds.
Lottery tickets move the needle?
Wtf….? Lol
A 21 year old who’s already one of the best passers in the league moves the needle more than two or three unknowns. He’s still younger than a lot of players entering the draft.
Now the question is will Donovan change his offensive philosophy to take advantage of Giddey’s talents?
Yeah, it seems like the pick-centric craziness of the gobert trade etc. era might be behind us. Less focus on picks as prime assets compared to existing players. OG trade, lillard trade, etc.
Of course teams will take picks when they’re the best returning assets available, but picks no longer outweigh players
Agreed. Young players with room to grow will outweigh mid to late 1sts most of the time. If you’re trading with a good or great team, it doesn’t really make as much sense to take draft assets, as you actually have more info on how the young players will perform in the NBA than the majority of draftees.
Good point.
Caruso’s health should be just fine as long as that moron Donovan isn’t his coach anymore asking him to play PF because they haven’t had one since Carlos Boozer waddled out of town.
Got me with waddled lmao. Miss the booz cruise and his aerosol hair
I think reinsdorf deserves far more blame than Donovan. Billy’s hand was kind of forced by injuries to pat, Craig, and Javonte. Not his fault that higher ups have refused to construct an actual well rounded team
Really? I mean think about it. Look at the Bulls draft Picks lately. Markkanen- Bust here. Williams-Bust. Terry-Bust so far. Phillips- Nothing special last year. Caruso-Got him beat up. I don’t really see a lot of top notch coaching being done here.
This is such a huge pickup for OKC. If they can get another legit rim defending big….Look out!
Oh, Thunder doesn’t need a big, ask Chucktoad. Holmgren is taking the West’s best out via brute force. Jokic, Davis, Kat, Rudy, Naz, Lively and Gafford, etc, Chet will manhandle the lot. Once done with that lot Kristaps and Horford, Giannis and Portis, Bam, Randle, Robinson and IHart (for now). Whoever it may be out the east will be absolutely terrified at the prospect of Chet throwing his weight around.
Back to reality….OKC definitely have a need to upgrade at Centre if they have ambitions of ever winning a title. Williams won’t cut it.
Josh will become a top PG in the NBA
21 yrs old ……. Try and comprehend this.
see him as a lonzo, simmons clone. no long term injury history or mentalness and the bulls did good.
His shot needs to improve. But he’s a big IQ guy. 21 yrs old.
CHI got by far the best player in the deal, can’t wait to see Giddey developing his star potential in the Windy City!