Woj: Thunder Trade Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso

[UcanUwill]

I get it for both teams although I'm not sure how Cason Wallace gets many minutes. I can see Presti dealing Wallace or Dort + pick(s) for a skilled big. Caruso is a nice acquisition but there needs to be a followup deal.

Cason Wallace should definitely get minutes. Due to his shooting, I think he will be long term starter for them, where guys like Caruso check in and swing the game from the bench.

[Jadoogar]

This could be the Thunder's Jrue Holiday trade. He's a vet, very good defender and perfect fit next with the roster.

[Bloodbather]

SGA-Caruso-Dort sounds absolutely exhausting for the opposing offense.

If OKC can add a big who can rebound they're a clear contender next season.

It also sounds exhausting for SGA to carry and entire offense with zero support.

Can you play Williams with that lineup? If so - that is SMALL with Chet also being SMALL at the 5.

His support is Jalen Williams. They needed to give Williams more opportunity to make plays anyway, Giddey had become completely redundant due to Williams' emergence as a playmaker.

It's a small lineup, but it's not that small because SGA and Caruso are 6'6'' and 6'5'' respectively. They'll probably use one of Caruso and Dort and introduce that to-be-acquired big I mentioned into the lineup against bigger teams.

[sam_I_am]

In 3 years giddy is 24 and Alex is probably out of the league. Why should Chicago fans expect draft picks too? This is a win now move for OKC and I like it but Chicago got a legit prospect for a bench player. Good trade for both.

[TacoLord]

How do the Bulls come out of this trade with no picks? The Thunder have so many available, they can't possibly use them all. Even a 2nd or two is better than nothing.

[nikster]

It also sounds exhausting for SGA to carry and entire offense with zero support.

Can you play Williams with that lineup? If so - that is SMALL with Chet also being SMALL at the 5.

While he will have to handle the ball more Caruso is a much more natural fit next to SGA than Giddy with his shooting.

They still need to figure something out at the Centre position but that is a crazy defensive back court, maybe second only to Boston

They need some wings.

SGA/Caruso/Dort/Williams is 4 dudes 6'5ish or smaller. Who can guard the bigger elite wings? I am sure Caruso and Dort can do a solid job for guards, but elite wings will crush them

Dort is strong enough for most big wings. They did a pretty great job on Luka in the playoffs.

Think they need both a wing and a C but don't think they need them both in the starting lineup

[basketballRob]

I think OKC is the favorite to sign Hartenstein, too. Hartenstein and Caruso were both top 5 in defensive EPM.

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[Astaluego]

Is this when Presti sends C.Wallace to Houston for T.Eason? Or does he go all out for Lauri?

[ropjhk]

I think this suits both teams but it would have been nice if the Bulls could have also gotten a draft pick even if just a second rounder.

[canada_dry]

Carusso had multiple 1st round pick value...which the bulls refused to trade him for.

Does giddey have that same value?

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[Patches Perry]

Presti totally flopped with that 6th overall pick by drafting Giddey.

Trading him for Caruso makes up for it a bit.

That seems overly harsh. Giddey seems perfectly decent for a number 6 pick. You can argue they should have taken Kuminga or Wagner but it's not that definitive. The much bigger mistake was not keeping Sengun. He would be absolutely perfect for them.

It’s not harsh whatsoever. Giddey is not good at all.

Giddey is talented but a bad fit for the NBA. For him to be effective, he needs to handle the ball a lot, but he isn't enough of a scoring threat to justify having the ball in his hands a lot. He needs to be a roleplayer, but the two most valuable attributes for an NBA roleplayer player are 3pt shooting and defense, two things Giddey is awful at. He has literally no possible role on a top team unless he learns to shoot.

[chrisab123]

Summer Vacation is coming up I'm sure the dating pool at the Chicago high schools are better than OKC.

[RunOKC]

Dort, Caruso, SGA and Cason Wallace on the floor at the same time is going to be something to watch on defense

[KingofTheClay]

Giddey is a lucky man. Gets to spend his time in Chicago.

Poor Caruso stuck in Idaho. Oops I mean Nebraska.


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[Godymas]

The Thunder became so unbelievably scary with this one move

The West is a guard's league. I know we often think of Jokic in the West, but it's really a guard's league.

Dallas - Luka and Kyrie
Minnesota - Ant
Golden State - Steph
Denver - Jamal Murray
Sacramento - Fox
LAC - Harden
PHX - Booker/Beal
Memphis - Ja/Bane

SGA and Caruso with Dort is one hell of a disgusting defensive monster

[Bloodbather]

I think OKC is the favorite to sign Hartenstein, too. Hartenstein and Caruso were both top 5 in defensive EPM.

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Are there rumors to this end or are you just guessing? I've mentioned Hartenstein as a great fit for OKC before as well.

[YogurtProducer]

While he will have to handle the ball more Caruso is a much more natural fit next to SGA than Giddy with his shooting.

They still need to figure something out at the Centre position but that is a crazy defensive back court, maybe second only to Boston

They need some wings.

SGA/Caruso/Dort/Williams is 4 dudes 6'5ish or smaller. Who can guard the bigger elite wings? I am sure Caruso and Dort can do a solid job for guards, but elite wings will crush them

Dort is strong enough for most big wings. They did a pretty great job on Luka in the playoffs.

Think they need both a wing and a C but don't think they need them both in the starting lineup

I think a much better team is

SGA/Williams/Dort/Chet as the main 4, then get a bigger wing and a center so you can play the big wing and Chet at the 4/5 or Chet and the center at the 4/5. Caruso as the backup.

I think you want to limit how much you have all 4 guards our there together.

[Dominator83]

Surprised people think this low of Josh Giddey. We saw what he’s like with high usage and when he’s not limited to a spot of shooter. He’s only 21 years old and Caruso is a 30 year old guard who is always injured.

Good trade for both teams for where they’re at now, but I think looking back in 5 years we’ll be thinking what a steal for Chicago

Yea i really don't understand why most are **** all over us for this trade. Caruso is a good defensive player, but hes not much of an offensive guy at all, gets hurt alot, and is gonna be looking for a huge pay increase a year from now.

Giddey has shown he can be very good as a lead guard. Hes also younger than some of the draft prospects.

Put it from this perspective: If Giddey was inserted into this draft, where would he go? I reckon top 5. Thats as good of a return as we were gonna get by far for caruso with 1 year left on his deal.

[YogurtProducer]

I think OKC is the favorite to sign Hartenstein, too. Hartenstein and Caruso were both top 5 in defensive EPM.

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If I am OKC I go after like Poeltl.

Get the get locked up for $19M for two seasons rather than pay Hartenstein 25M+ or whatever it would be.

[mkot]

This is highway robbery for the Thunder