After a surprising trade last week that relocated Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Josh Giddey is prepared to seize new opportunities with the Chicago Bulls.
“He helped me reach a favorable position,” Giddey commented on the trade request stemming from his exit interviews with Thunder VP Sam Presti. “I’m incredibly thrilled to be here.”
Giddey provided additional details about Presti’s press release, explaining that they had candid discussions about his role as a key player in the OKC rotation, expressing reluctance towards potentially being a bench player.
“He discussed with me the possibility of different roles, such as coming off the bench to lead the second unit,” Giddey elaborated. “At this stage of my career, being 21 years old, it wasn’t something I was particularly eager to do. He fully understood that. Throughout the entire process, we maintained openness and honesty with each other. I told him, ‘Look, at this point in my career, I’m not looking to come off the bench and take on a reserve role.'”
It’s understandable. After a strong second season where he put up impressive numbers, the prospect of transitioning to a smaller role on a team still in development made it difficult to see how he could reach his full potential.
“I felt it would be challenging to reach my full potential on a team like that, where many talented players required significant ball-handling opportunities,” he explained. “A change of scenery might unlock more opportunities for me.”
However, the team’s roster remains uncertain. Reports suggest the Bulls are actively seeking trade partners for Zach LaVine, while DeMar DeRozan’s future with the team is uncertain amid their focus on integrating younger players into the roster.
It’s difficult to predict Giddey’s exact role at this point, but the trade strongly suggests he will be heavily involved in ball-handling duties, even though no promises have been made to him yet.
“I see my role as making the game easier for everyone else,” Giddey explained. “As a point guard, my focus is on ensuring my teammates get good looks and feel confident on the court. When you get others involved and feeling positive early in the game, it benefits the entire team. That’s how I view my game—simplifying basketball for my teammates and creating opportunities for them.”
As the season went on, opportunities for that kind of role diminished for him. Notably, Giddey was relegated to the bench during the second round of the playoffs, and he faced challenges adapting to a new role alongside several other ball handlers throughout the season. His playing time decreased by six minutes per game, which also led to a decline in his usage by one and a half points.
“There were many distractions, whether from external factors or internal changes,” Giddey explained. “For me, a lot of it stemmed from how much our team improved and evolved together. My role, I wouldn’t say it diminished, but it definitely shifted compared to the first few years I had. It was a significant adjustment learning to play off the ball, especially with how teams guarded us due to our lineup. The addition of players like Chet made opponents adjust their strategies. A lot of these challenges were basketball-related from my perspective. But credit to our team, we improved rapidly, and these adjustments were natural. It was a year of adaptation and learning new aspects of the game.”
Playing alongside top-tier ball handlers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, along with a stretch five like Chet Holmgren who drew opposing centers away from the basket, teams adapted by either sagging off Giddey defensively or assigning their big men to guard him, disrupting the offense. Whether he becomes a dominant ball handler in Chicago or not, these challenges may persist. Giddey must focus on improving his shooting and defense to avoid being marginalized at the highest level of play.
“It was a disappointing way for my season to end,” Giddey reflected. “It highlighted areas where I need to improve and be more resilient in those crucial moments. These lessons are valuable for me at this early stage of my career rather than later on. Experiencing playoff action for the first time made me realize what I need to focus on and improve, particularly my shooting, which is a major priority.”
Giddey stressed the significance of elevating his defensive game, demonstrating the self-awareness necessary for his improvement.
“But also, heading into this offseason, something clicked in my mind,” he remarked. “I’ve come to realize that to compete at the highest level, you must excel defensively. It’s crucial to be able to defend effectively and take pride in that aspect of the game. While offense will develop naturally, I’m focusing on making significant strides on the defensive end. I want to ensure that when playoff time arrives, I’m prepared to contribute on both ends of the floor, not just offensively.”
If Giddey, at 21 years old, continues to make strides in these areas, his future prospects will become more promising. It appears he is determined to leverage this new opportunity to influence his upcoming contract negotiations.
“After my season in Oklahoma, the focus was mainly on contract extension talks,” Giddey explained. “However, the trade shifted my mindset towards different considerations. Regarding an extension, I haven’t given it much thought in the past week or so. I expect those discussions to happen with my agent, the team’s front office, and so on.”
Giddey holds significant leverage over the Bulls for his next contract. After trading Caruso to acquire him, they cannot afford to lose him easily. While securing a favorable deal now would be ideal for the Bulls, Giddey might prefer to wait and play out the year instead. If the Bulls delay in signing him, there’s a risk that his performance could lead to a higher contract demand later on.
Additional transactions are needed to fully grasp how the roster will develop after the first player trade in three seasons. However, the Giddey era has begun, and he appears enthusiastic about becoming a staple of the Bulls’ offense going forward.
