Getty Alex Caruso during a March 4 game against the Sacramento Kings.
The Chicago Bulls are kicking off NBA trade season. In a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re sending Alex Caruso in exchange for Josh Giddey in a player-for-player swap.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first with reports of the first trade this offseason.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey, sources tell ESPN.
Giddey is 21-years old and coming off of his third NBA season. A capable playmaker, Wojnarowski writes that Chicago has been in the market for a Lonzo Ball replacement.
The Bulls have been determined to find a playmaker to replace Lonzo Ball, and Giddey , 21, comes with an All-Star potential that would unlikely be realized with the Thunder because of the playmaking starpower who surrounded him. The Bulls will offer him an opportunity to have the…
“The Bulls have been determined to find a playmaker to replace Lonzo Ball, and Giddey, 21, comes with an All-Star potential that would unlikely be realized with the Thunder because of the playmaking starpower who surrounded him,” Wojnarowski wrote in a June 20 tweet. “The Bulls will offer him an opportunity to have the ball in his hands and so much more freedom (to) pass and score.”
Ball has been out for two consecutive seasons with various knee issues. His return to the floor remains up in the air. Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 80 games with the Thunder this season.
Ball On Recovery: ‘I’m About 70’ Percent
Ball appeared on a May 24 episode of the “What An Experience!” podcast and provided fans with an update on his rehab.
“It’s coming along, man. Week by week it’s improving. So that’s all I can ask for,” Ball said on the podcast. “It’s still not where I want it to be. Out of 100[%], I’d probably say I’m about 70. Good enough to play, but it could still get better I feel like. So [I’ve] still got a long summer ahead of me. But definitely looking forward to the future.”
Furthermore, he credited a meniscus tear in 2018 for the trouble he’s had over the last two years.
“It started with the meniscus tear,” Ball said. “Basically started on the Lakers when I tore it the first time. Tore it a couple more times to a point to where there was no more – basically not much meniscus left, and bone on bone was rubbing so the cartilage was gone and the bone was messed up.”
Ball hasn’t played for the Bulls since January of 2022. He averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals in his 35 appearances with the Windy City club.
Giddey Moving to Point Guard?
Wojnarowski cited Chicago’s need for a Ball replacement in his reports of the Caruso-Giddey trade. But that would suggest a position change for the (now former) Thunder guard.
According to Basketball Reference’s Play-By-Play chart, Giddey played one-percent of his minutes this season at point guard.
All in all, he’s spent the majority of his career at the small forward (36-percent) and power forward (36-percent) positions.
Giddey has 1200 career assists to 550 career turnovers. He’s proven he can be trusted with initiating an offense, but never given full reign like he’s expected to with the Bulls.
Wojnarowski said as much in his report, and praised the 21-year-old’s playmaking chops.
“Giddey was the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA draft and developed into one of the league’s most creative young playmakers,” Wojnarowski wrote. “…They (Chicago) needed an engine for their offense, and they land that with Giddey.”
Chicago is prioritizing playmaking over defense in letting Caruso go. He’s one of the league’s best individual defenders. Giddey is nowhere near regarded on that end of the ball.
But for a Bulls team that finished 22nd in both defensive rating and points per game this season, there’s little that doesn’t need to be addressed this offseason.