Woj: Thunder Trade Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso

[watpho71]

Good trade for both teams. Caruso instantly makes any team better. Giddey needed a new home.

[MrTribbiani]

I get that some Bulls fans are upset because Josh is considered "problematic," (even though he isn't) and he is a flawed player; however, Caruso is replaceable.

It's funny how players that are considered fan favorites are frequently viewed through rose colored glasses.

[slick_watts]

i won't say it's impossible. but players who are as bad at the things josh giddey is bad at in their first three seasons typically don't become decent at them even when they are young. giddey's low FTr, mediocre defense and bad finishing are results of things he can't really control- his poor athleticism, explosiveness and short arms. even if he does become a serviceable 3pt shooter, it probably won't be off the dribble, and without that he's just not putting much pressure on defenses as a primary ball handler.

chicago's offense will be bad, and josh giddey can probably put up numbers on a bad offense where the options next to him aren't top ten isolation handlers like in okc. but i don't see a really solid path that results in giddey being a primary handler on a /good/ offense, because all the same problems that happened in okc will manifest once the talent around him improves again.

[shi-woo]

This move indicates that the Thunder are taking notes from how the Celtics won.

The main question I have, is who starts for them now, Cason or Alex? I think Alex would be the better player off the bench given his ability to play make, but I also love the idea of having the veteran in the starting lineup.

Another question is how do they address the big man rotation now, and what are some cheap options. I don't like Chet at center right now, not in the West and not when he's still building mass. They need some beef down low, to protect their investment with Chet but also for teams like the Lakers, Nuggets, and Wolves.

I would really throw the farm at ATL on draft night for Onyeka

I also like the idea of signing Hartenstein, he was solid in the playoffs, is another vet, and is one of the best offensive rebounders in the game.

I also could see a world where the Bucks/OKC do a 3 team trade, with Lopez going to OKC, Hayward to a team looking for cap relief, and a multitude of role players going to mil. Something like:

Bucks:
Hunter
Joe/Wiggins
Bruno

ATL:
Hayward
#12

OKC:
Lopez

Lopez
Chet- Williams
Dort- Wiggins
Williams- Cason
Shai- Caruso

That's a solid 5 out team that can play defense, and looks eirily similar to what the Celtics just did.

I don't think OKC is interested in a Center that can't space the floor

[Mr B]

This was a great move by OKC. They still need a PG though. In my opinion they should use some of those draft picks they have and trade for a PG that fits their timeline and might just need a change of scenery. Also someone that’s a true PG. I would be checking with the Pistons to see what it would take to get Cade Cunningham. Or they could go for Trae Young but Cade has more size.

[facothomas22]

I would've thought that the Bulls would've gotten one of those Clippers or Rockets picks,along with Josh Giddy. Felt like this was a missed opportunity to get draft capital back in return for their most valuable asset. Maybe Josh Giddy develops into the player that people were expecting him to be after his rookie season, but this return as of now, the return feel light on the Bulls. As for OKC, this will make their backcourt defense even better.Now they need to focus on getting a Center. Maybe they use their pick on Zach Edey or Kel'el Ware?

[durden_tyler]

Pretty funny

Read on Twitter

[___Rand___]

They could pick up Looney if he is cut by GS. Try to trade for Jonas if New Orleans looks to move on from him. Zubac if the Clipps want to shake things up. True bigs are hard to come by nowadays.

JV is not good defensively, but is an option for having a big down low. I don't think Clips will let go of Zubac because they don't have another big. Yeah because of Jokic and Embiid true contenders need bigs to counter them.

Chet can probably play some minutes as a small ball 5 but yea they need some size. Funny cause they could have had Lively who isnt thick but the guy can rebound and block shots. He is better on the boards and is better defensively than Chet. I could be wrong but i like the Caruso trade for them.

Caruso is good too but why do they need another 2-guard? They got SOOO many who can play that position. Dort, J Williams, Aaron Wiggins. They needed a SF. They got too many of the hybrid 2-3 guys at 6'5". I don't know what they're going to do with all of them.

[___Rand___]

Tossed around like a ragdoll by Towns? Wtf? I expect Jokic to be a problem in the post but Towns? You reaching bro.

Towns doesn't play physical, but who's to say he won't? But that's just an example. There are other bigs in the west that OKC has to match up to. Including others within Twolves.

whos to say he won't? People who's watched him over the years. If he won't post up a guard you think he will post up a capella or chet on a regular basis?

My point isn't about Towns. My point is about the bigs in the West, and OKC got nobody to counter them.

[Pablo Escobar]

Dort/Caruso on the same roster.. clamp city lmao.

[tarantism]

Good trade for both teams. Caruso instantly makes any team better. Giddey needed a new home.

It's a home run for OKC if Caruso has a decently healthy season / throughout the post season. Of course he's been injury prone, so who knows. But on paper Caruso is an awesome basketball fit.

Does Chicago just see this as a flyer? Because if so they sure shipped out presumably a pretty highly valued asset to get him. Is DeRozan still going to be there? How does as Giddey/White/LaVine/DeRozan lineup work? Who is guarding the perimeter there?

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[durden_tyler]

Good trade for both teams. Caruso instantly makes any team better. Giddey needed a new home.

It's a home run for OKC if Caruso has a decently healthy season / throughout the post season. Of course he's been injury prone, so who knows. But on paper Caruso is an awesome basketball fit.

Does Chicago just see this as a flyer? Because if so they sure shipped out presumably a pretty highly valued asset to get him. Is DeRozan still going to be there? How does as Giddey/White/LaVine/DeRozan lineup work? Who is guarding the perimeter there?

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It's obvious that the Caruso deal is just start of the total, absolute rebuild.

LaVine will go to the highest bidder (which is not much.) Ball is cut ASAP, DeRozan leaves, etc.

[BigGargamel]

Good trade for both teams. Caruso instantly makes any team better. Giddey needed a new home.

It's a home run for OKC if Caruso has a decently healthy season / throughout the post season. Of course he's been injury prone, so who knows. But on paper Caruso is an awesome basketball fit.

Does Chicago just see this as a flyer? Because if so they sure shipped out presumably a pretty highly valued asset to get him. Is DeRozan still going to be there? How does as Giddey/White/LaVine/DeRozan lineup work? Who is guarding the perimeter there?

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I see the Bulls resigning DeRozan and dumping LaVine, even if they have to simply give him away. Giddey/White/DeRozan/Vucevic and maybe someone who can actually play power forward.

[Anderson Hunt]

Bulls get younger bigger and way more future potential, OKC gets another guard not sure how this helps them much, in the minority here but like this trade for the Bulls.

Yeah, Giddey fits well with Coby White. The Bulls will need Williams to shoot and defend better for the fit to work with Giddey

[HMFFL]

This is huge for OKC.
Much better talent to have for what they're wanting to accomplish. Excellent way to begin the off-season.

[azcatz11]

Good trade for both teams. Caruso instantly makes any team better. Giddey needed a new home.

It's a home run for OKC if Caruso has a decently healthy season / throughout the post season. Of course he's been injury prone, so who knows. But on paper Caruso is an awesome basketball fit.

Does Chicago just see this as a flyer? Because if so they sure shipped out presumably a pretty highly valued asset to get him. Is DeRozan still going to be there? How does as Giddey/White/LaVine/DeRozan lineup work? Who is guarding the perimeter there?

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I see the Bulls resigning DeRozan and dumping LaVine, even if they have to simply give him away. Giddey/White/DeRozan/Vucevic and maybe someone who can actually play power forward.

Hypothetical question for you:

Would Josh Giddey be the #1 overall pick in this draft?

[AleksandarN]

**** I wanted the Nuggets to trade for Caruso

Let me guess....cause Caruso is HIM?

https://youtube.com/shorts/SI7aj6tS-Wo?si=m1ET8seFuThZsBte

Why don’t you actually quote me what I said In that thread? Are you that dense or just intellectually dishonest. I am hoping the later. Never know. Even then it has nothing to do with what I actually wrote and you quote me on in this thread. Thinking you have some gotcha post which has nothing to with this thread. So instead of derailing this thread bump that one and we talk on the merits of that thread. Instead of posting garbage in this one.

[BigGargamel]

It's a home run for OKC if Caruso has a decently healthy season / throughout the post season. Of course he's been injury prone, so who knows. But on paper Caruso is an awesome basketball fit.

Does Chicago just see this as a flyer? Because if so they sure shipped out presumably a pretty highly valued asset to get him. Is DeRozan still going to be there? How does as Giddey/White/LaVine/DeRozan lineup work? Who is guarding the perimeter there?

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I see the Bulls resigning DeRozan and dumping LaVine, even if they have to simply give him away. Giddey/White/DeRozan/Vucevic and maybe someone who can actually play power forward.

Hypothetical question for you:

Would Josh Giddey be the #1 overall pick in this draft?

If a team knew how Giddey would turn out after his first three years..probably? I'd have to assume you aren't getting 16/8/6 from a 20 year old Risacher.

[socal74]

I get that some Bulls fans are upset because Josh is considered "problematic," (even though he isn't) and he is a flawed player; however, Caruso is replaceable.

It's funny how players that are considered fan favorites are frequently viewed through rose colored glasses.

Well he's an all world defender. You probably still think of him as that balding bench player on the Lakers who dunked on KD. He's way past that.

[socal74]

Towns doesn't play physical, but who's to say he won't? But that's just an example. There are other bigs in the west that OKC has to match up to. Including others within Twolves.

whos to say he won't? People who's watched him over the years. If he won't post up a guard you think he will post up a capella or chet on a regular basis?

My point isn't about Towns. My point is about the bigs in the West, and OKC got nobody to counter them.

Like I said jokic will be a problem. Which other big in the west are you talking about?