Appearing on Podcast P With Paul George (video link), Thunder big man Chet Holmgren admitted being “hurt” when he heard about the June trade that sent Josh Giddey to the Bulls in exchange for Alex Caruso. Holmgren and Giddey were high lottery picks by Oklahoma City in back-to-back years, and they were expecting to be part of the team’s long-term foundation.
“I was (expletive) hurt when I saw that Giddey wouldn’t be on our team anymore,” Holmgren said. “We all rock with him. That’s our dog, still is. He’s gonna go do great things in Chicago, so we’re excited for him and we’re also excited to have AC on our team now, too. Like you said, great defender, he makes shots, he always makes winning plays, makes the right plays. That’s the type of dude you want to play with.”
Caruso, considered one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, joins a Thunder team that’s already proficient on that end of the court. Giddey may thrive once he’s given a chance to run the Bulls’ offense, but he struggled in the playoffs last season and was pulled from the starting lineup in the second-round series against Dallas due to concerns about his defense and outside shooting.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- After two developmental years, Ousmane Dieng is hoping to earn a spot in the Thunder‘s rotation in 2024/25, writes Nick Crain of Forbes. The organization viewed Dieng as a project when it traded for him during the 2022 draft. He has appeared in just 72 NBA games since then, but has shown improvement in the G League and is fresh off winning MVP honors in the title game. Crain notes that because Dieng has perimeter skills to go with his 6’10” frame, he’s versatile enough to contribute to the Thunder at a variety of positions.
- Coach Michael Malone and the Nuggets‘ front office haven’t been on the same page in recent years when it comes to roster moves, sources tell David Thorpe of TrueHoop. Thorpe has been hearing for two seasons about a “disconnect” as the organization has lost Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from its 2023 championship roster. Malone has been left with a collection of young players to try to fill their roles.
- Walker Kessler doesn’t seem to be part of the long-term future for the Jazz, opines Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Sources confirm to Pincus that Utah has explored trades involving Kessler, including discussions with the Knicks in July. If the 23-year-old center remains on the roster, the Jazz will have to decide this fall whether to pick up his $4.9MM option for the 2025/26 season. Pincus’ comments are included in a proposed three-team trade involving the Pelicans and Nets that would send Brandon Ingram to Utah.
Dieng will be given many opportunities early to show he belongs on the team. If he struggles they will just trade him around deadline.
I doubt the Jazz would trade for Ingram ever. He’s too injury prone. I’d rather them give more time to their young players.
Kessler, while primarily a defender, is still a good roll man. He might not have a jumper, but still will be very useful for defending guys like Edey and Clingan. If the Jazz can keep him on a cheap contract then he’s worth keeping around.
I would say Edey and Clingan have much More to prove in the league than Kessler. Kessler might or might not be in Utah’s future plans, but His Rookie seasons he excelled, in the defensive end AND established a solid position among the NBA centers, worth representing Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, and really giving an.excellent replacement for DPOY Rudy Gobert.
Acknowledging he didn’t progress as expected as a sophomore, I.would put Him in a quite higher consideration in the league that Edey and Clingan, both rookies who might pan out as well as not, but none of them guarantees of reliable NBA players as of today.
Edey, for many Time, was considered a player whose dominant college play wouldn’t translate to the NBA.
The proposed deal if you cbf clicking the link:
Jazz: Ingram and Sharpe
Pelicans: Cam Johnson and Walker Kessler
Brooklyn: John Collins, Bruce Sensabaugh and a first from Utah.
Think Brooklyn ask for more in return for Cam.
Think it’s a great return for Pelicans.
Lastly, Think it would be a little dumb on Utah’s part considering Ingram wants a huge extension and the fact you have Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams, plus giving up on Walker so early.
If you revised the trade, Colin Sexton and Taylor Hendricks to Brooklyn, then Pelicans give up Jordan Hawkins to Utah and they keep the pick, I could then start thinking about it.
Pelicans still get a great return, Brooklyn gets two solid young players and Utah keep the pick and retool a little.
Brooklyn and Orlando apparently have been in talks about Dennis Schroder heading south, maybe keep things moving. Cole and Jett for Dennis and Dariq and some seconds. Jett ain’t been doing much in Orlando and his dad is now an assistant in Brooklyn. Dennis has the German link to Franz and Mo. Cole grew up in Manhattan. Dariq went to Duke the year after Paolo, so there’s a couple little contractions there.
Brooklyn:
Sexton Thomas Simmons DFS Claxton
Cole Jett Z.Williams Hendricks …
Also Bogdanovic Wilson and Clowney
Brooklyn would still likely suck enough to be in the running for Cooper Flegg but they’d have a lot more upside either way some good young players.
Pelicans would be tough.
Dejounte CJ Cam Zion Walker
Jose Trey Green Herb Theis
Also Reeves JRE and Missi
Gone for Cam as the starter just cause of his catch and shoot ability. However theyd now have a solid starting 5 with serious depth. Shooting, defence, experience, star factor they’ve got it all.
Lastly Utah, think you have to do something to invest in making this team better now you’ve paid Lauri I just don’t think Ingram is the best choice considering how expensive his next deal is. Giving up Walker also seems like a bad idea. Atleast but sending Sexton over Collins you keep some height and length and can play some small ball line ups. Gives playing time for Keyonte and opens up a role for Hawkins who has good potential too
Those are terrible returns for the Jazz. They can do way better than that. Besides, they’re going to tank this year, maybe one more. This Summer decided it for them. The draft is their best way to improve.
BTW, Sexton isn’t likely to be traded, at this point. He’s a fan favorite and has shown he’s the perfect 6th man if they find a trade for Clarkson.
Collins played consistently solid the whole year. He showed he’s worth keeping around, if no trades come along. Plus, by the time his contract is up Hendricks (or Flagg?) would be ready to take over the spot. The Jazz tend to play Markkanen at 3, but sometimes 4-5.
As for Kessler, I don’t see the Jazz getting the value they’d want from a trade, at this point. They’ll just wait to see what they have and make a trade at the deadline. But maybe not…
Julian , it would be great for Kessler if the rookie season was all that mattered, but a player’s recent play matters more. His FIBA play last summer was highly disappointing, and other teams had learned to play him in this past, second, NBA season. He played worse than before, so he played less. After 2 years in the league, Kessler projects as a plus defensive center that will always be offensively limited. He’s a better fit for lose-now Utah than John Collins, but Collins has a huge, untradeable contract, preventing Kessler’s development.
Benboy , if the Jazz are tanking, why would they want to keep Collins and Sexton around? Those 2, like Clarkson, will keep the Jazz from getting the high lottery picks that are the basis for tanking. It’s a sure formula to set back the rebuild timeline another year.
Although there’s apparently no market for their bad contracts at moment, that typically changes by January, when contending teams have injuries or decide they want to make a run. If they’re not traded by March, they’ll be buyout candidates.
New Orleans would be crazy to give away any talent right now. They are big, long, athletic, versatile and young. Let the boys play together. Ingram and Zion healthy are two top 30 players and scorers. You have a nice roster. Fill it with a bruiser and make a run in the next few years. Small market teams who break it up early are in for 3 year cycles. If at the all star break it’s not working. Then explore trading foundational pieces. Adding Murray and trading Ingram makes them worse. Keeping Ingram could lead to a surprise Top 5 team in the west. Worry about contracts later, win now.
Disagree, holding him could really hurt his value, he has had injury problems in the past.
Also with the added expectations of the team doesn’t get results it hurts his value. He just doesn’t fit what they are building.
You’ve got Zion, you added Murray, you have wings, but you still have areas that need attention.
Small market teams need to be bold. Indy traded Sabonis for Tyrese and it was fantastic. Why did they do it? Because of fit, same here.
As for “adding Murray and trading Ingram makes them worse”. Depends on your return for Ingram. Look at how bad Ingram was in the playoffs. 5/17 in game 1 and 2/14 in game 4, 2/8 from 3 across the whole series. Not a single 20 point game against OKC, you really want to pay that dude 40/50 mil a season.
No you cash in while there’s value and give this team as much time together as possible afterwards.
I think Walker Kessler would be a great target, even if it’s straight swap, Ingram for Collins, Weasley and a first without the third team.
Alternatively, Ingram for Capela and Bogi, I’d take that everyday of the week.
Ingram for Ayton, I’d certainly think about it but I think in the end I’d even that take
Wow. Brandon Ingram, and John Collins, and DeAndre Ayton in the same thread!
Throw in Zach Lavine and DeAngelo Russell, and you’ve got maybe the 5 hardest guys to trade in the NBA.
Every player comes with a LOT of baggage.
Giddey is a real PG with excellent size. It’s called positional size. It’s what makes a good player at his position. A great player at his position. He’s 21 yrs old. What part of that don’t we understand. I’m so tired of nons who got answers about 19-25 yr olds.
Thunder moved him. Cause they can’t pay him. So they added a solid vet. That fits this young team. Real PGs don’t come around often. Bulls have a starter for next 10 yrs. Giddey is a player that can lead the L in ast. Great move by Bulls imo.
KnickerbickerAl, I’m with you that Giddey is going to continue to improve, has PG feel for the game, and his size helps a lot.
I have a big concern about Giddey, though. I don’t think he’ll ever be a decent shooter, and a modern NBA PG has to do that. That’s what kept him off the floor in OKC. He worked hard on his shooting for 3 years, but didn’t get better.