Bulls trade Alex Caruso to OKC for Josh Giddey

[FriedRise]

Man I was already down on this team, just didn't know there's an even lower floor smh

[Jcool0]

Hate to be this guy but i'm pretty positive 21 year old Giddey would go #1 in this years draft. I'm thrilled with this haul. I hope they announce picks later but hey, this is a good young player who we have team control over and who's game theoretically can improve other pieces on our roster with his playmaking. Lets give him the keys, anything has been better than what we've been watching.

That's the most noteworthy downside in my view. We don't really have team control. This is the last year of his deal.

And we can match any deal he gets.

[chicago paxsons]

Not understanding the uproar with this move, but also not surprised.

For one, the FO made a move, when many wanted them too and didn't think would happen.

Second, people have been begging to trade Caruso because he didn't fit the timeline.

Third, AC was on the last year of his deal correct? Wasn't going to get anything super crazy.

Fourth, we got a productive player from the trade, and replacement for lonzo. Coby can be a pure SG, which again, many wanted.

Am I missing something?

I think many were hoping for a trade that fleeced the other team a la danny ainge. Young skilled prospect with potential and multiple picks for an really good, but injury prone defender on the last year of his contract. Or something in the vein of that.

[jnrjr79]

Giddey doesn’t put up the assist numbers that he did if the above Anne dotes are accurate.

Anyway, in theory, Giddey fits next to Coby + LaVine + Pat. In contrast, no real scenario where he fits well with DDR. Does this mean that AKME is pivoting, giving up on trading LaVine (for zero value) and resigning DDR (at excess cost)?

The question is whether the Bulls are trading LaVine AND DeRozan, not whether they are trading LaVine OR DeRozan.

LaVine is gone and it’s mind-boggling to keep seeing people think otherwise. The only way LaVine is back is if the Bulls literally cannot find anyone to take him or would need to attach assets to move him.

[Jcool0]

A competent front office would of gotten Anthony Edwards and two unprotected 1sts for Caruso.

[LateNight]

The thing that made lonzo valuable wasn’t that we can make a full court pass, it was that he shoots 3s at high volume and can defend. This does neither of those things

[KissedByaRose1]

Hate to be this guy but i'm pretty positive 21 year old Giddey would go #1 in this years draft. I'm thrilled with this haul. I hope they announce picks later but hey, this is a good young player who we have team control over and who's game theoretically can improve other pieces on our roster with his playmaking. Lets give him the keys, anything has been better than what we've been watching.

That's the most noteworthy downside in my view. We don't really have team control. This is the last year of his deal.

He's restricted though where AC wasn't. The rookie max for what his upside is and brings potentially is better than AC at 25 million a year in his 30s

[TheJordanRule]

I love it. Here is a hodgepodge of thoughts about it.

1. Caruso HAD to go. I wrote in the draft thread maybe a week ago about how people had to come to grips with the Caruso diminution of trade value, that it would be real. That this is what AK has been doing and is going to continue to do. Giddy is a significantly better and more well known get than a first rounder would have been, including OKC's 12. Which I would have taken for Caruso in a heartbeat.

This needed to be said. After Lonzo's injury cut off our balls (no pun intended) we never had a chance at contending for any throne. They doubled down twice on that route, keeping the Big 2 plus Caruso and it just led us nowhere, err I mean losing in the play ins. Now we're supposed to triple down because Caruso is a premium value? Nah.

2. I will certainly miss Caruso, the rare player who in a short time - especially considering the meager results of the team - became an all-time Bulls legend. But I am really happy for him that he's headed to an elite young team to contend for a title right away. What a great fit for OKC.

Much love to Caruso, indeed.

3. Love the fit with Giddy but admittedly have always been a fan of his multifaceted game. The shot is shaky of course but even without it I feel Giddy is a very flexible piece for rebuilding and adapting rosters. And I love his desired pace of play, which will fit beautifully with how Coby and Ayo want to play, how Pat and Lonzo play best (of they return). This is in fact my favorite element of this trade.

Disagree about the fit. It's nice that Giddey likes to run, Duck, but the kid's defense isn't there yet, and we already have another mid defender in Coby. We were forced into this deal based on Giddey's talent and youth.

4. I love what it might signify. I have stated repeatedly my fear that this offseason's moves would be driven by the misguided priority of retaining DDR. Trading Caruso certainly does not help with the sales pitch to a guy who wants to win to at least some degree in his next uniform. Giddy is 21. Is this the first shift towards tearing it down to rebuild? Is DDR next?

God, let this be the first shift! We can no longer support a rudderless roster featuring delusions of DDR and Vuce actually doing something!

5. Pros and cons to Giddy's deal on having one year left. I wish we could get a two year sniff. But the timing is good. His value is not especially high right now so his ask next summer might not be too high for us to get a two year/third year team option for him to get that longer look. Or he really blossoms and we have a guy we want to pay.

Let's **** go! Go Bulls!

[Kurt Heimlich]

Giddey doesn’t put up the assist numbers that he did if the above Anne dotes are accurate.

Anyway, in theory, Giddey fits next to Coby + LaVine + Pat. In contrast, no real scenario where he fits well with DDR. Does this mean that AKME is pivoting, giving up on trading LaVine (for zero value) and resigning DDR (at excess cost)?

The question is whether the Bulls are trading LaVine AND DeRozan, not whether they are trading LaVine OR DeRozan.

LaVine is gone and it’s mind-boggling to keep seeing people think otherwise. The only way LaVine is back is if the Bulls literally cannot find anyone to take him or would need to attach assets to move him.

I think the Bulls would resign DDR but DDR's current belief of his market value is far beyond what they'd pay. And this deal, as craptacular as we may think it is or is not, makes it easier for them to flex that position. Ultimately I don't think DDR gets a big contract, but he should certainly try and maximize by getting a decent contract with a far better franchise than the Chicago Bulls.

[bullskokie]

Giddey can benefit a change of scenery. I am hoping he would be Utah Lauri. I actually like this trade for us.

[DuckIII]

There is a roughly a zero percent chance of Zach being on the roster.

Giddey was brought in to be the starting PG.

Bingo.

Impacts the draft as well. I think we can put the Carter rumors to bed unless AK plans on trading one of Coby or Ayo.

[TheJordanRule]

Man I was already down on this team, just didn't know there's an even lower floor smh

Dayum. Half the board really doesn't get this deal. How is this a bad deal FR?

[2weekswithpay]

Literally everything I have read so far has crowned OKC the champs and suggested the Bulls be relegated.

So basically it went exactly how I thought the eventual Caruso trade would go.

Recency bias. Caruso is the better player and people remember Giddey being unplayable in the playoffs which certainly affects opinions. The Bulls weren't getting that much in return for one year of Caruso.

[Dez]

How the f*** can anyone not like this trade?

Giddey is being seriously underrated, I love Caruso but he's a 30 year old expiring contract who gets injured.

[SirKaiser]

Caruso was probably worth atleast a 2nd rnd pick in addition to Giddey, but I don't hate the trade.

We're getting a taller and much younger player in return. Just get our 3pt coach guy to work on Giddey and I'm sure his defense will improve over time.

[TheGOATRises007]

Horrific trade.

We just saw Giddey be absolutely unplayable vs the Mavs in the playoffs.

[sco]

I love AC. My fave Bull on our team. Sad to see him go.

We all talk like "a pick is a pick". I don't think any of the picks we were previously offered were likely to be top 5 picks for AC. I look at the list of players that we are considering at 11 and I'd glady take Giddy over all of them. Honestly I was rooting for AC to bring us back Kuminga or Reaves because I think both guys are better (but neither is really a complete player).

I will also give AK props. I want a rebuild as do many here, but AK isn't waffling. He brought back a young guy with upside, who can immediately start for us. Also, he didn't go through the season with AC as a wasting asset. We all knew that resigning AC (for a decent payday) would be a bad deal.

[Repeat 3-peat]

There is a roughly a zero percent chance of Zach being on the roster.

Giddey was brought in to be the starting PG.

Bingo.

Impacts the draft as well. I think we can put the Carter rumors to bed unless AK plans on trading one of Coby or Ayo.

Idk, Billy likes 3 guard lineups and the team now lacks a POA defender. Carter fills that need.

[nomorezorro]

Horrific trade.

We just saw Giddey be absolutely unplayable vs the Mavs in the playoffs.

well, the good news is, we're not going to be in the playoffs anytime soon

[Ctownbulls]

Horrific trade.

We just saw Giddey be absolutely unplayable vs the Mavs in the playoffs.

He's 22 years old. If he ends up being awful then they won't resign him - just like they wouldn't have resigned Caruso. If he continues to improve then Bulls have the right to match. Either way, this is the start of a blow-up and tank which is the right move.