In a surprising trade that has captured the attention of fans, the Bulls have traded two-time NBA All-Defensive Team player Alex Caruso to the Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey. The move gives OKC one of the league’s most coveted role players, as general manager Sam Presti has been seeking a player with his attributes for some time.
However, the trade does not necessarily mean a loss for the Chicago team, as they acquire a less experienced but younger player with the potential to lead the NBA franchise in the future. According to sources, the Thunder had planned to bring Giddey off the bench in the upcoming season, a scenario that Giddey found challenging to envision.
“Conversations led him to inquire about potential opportunities elsewhere,” explained Presti. “Throughout the discussions, Josh displayed utmost professionalism. While Josh has All-Star potential, it was determined that unlocking that potential within the Thunder’s current structure would not be optimal for the team as a whole. As a result of these discussions, we decided to prioritize what was best for the organization.”
Bulls are trading Alex Caruso to the OKC Thunder for Josh Giddey, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/AWsTxE19Hb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 20, 2024
Giddey, the 6th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has evolved into one of the NBA’s most versatile and creative young playmakers. His former GM mentioned in a statement, “When we drafted Josh in 2021, he was a crucial part of our vision for the Thunder’s future. As our team progressed unexpectedly, it was decided that bringing Josh off the bench next season would optimize his talents and enhance the team’s efficiency over 48 minutes.”
Coming off a career-high 80 games for Oklahoma City last season, Giddey started to come off the bench, particularly in the Western Conference playoffs. Despite seeing his scoring average drop from 16.6 points per game to 12.3 as his role changed, Giddey showcased his professionalism throughout the discussions about his future.
Giddey’s Farewell to OKC Fans
Following the news of his trade to Chicago, Josh Giddey bid farewell to the Oklahoma City fanbase with an emotional message on social media. The team had already announced the trade for veteran guard Alex Caruso.
“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 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,” he expressed.
He specifically thanked his teammates for supporting him through tough times in the past season. “You guys know the real me. I am forever in debt to Oklahoma and no words will do justice to how much the city & organization mean to me and my family,” Giddey added.
Presti emphasized Giddey’s potential to become a prominent figure in the NBA. “Josh has All-Star potential, but accessing that in the current structure of the Thunder would not be optimal for the collective. Based on these discussions, we decided to prioritize what was best for the organization,” he concluded.
