Bulls trade Alex Caruso to OKC for Josh Giddey

[Repeat 3-peat]

Caruso in OKC is a luxury for them. They have POA defenders and they just added to their strength. Nobody should be shocked if this time next year they are holding the trophy.

[2weekswithpay]

If the Bulls traded Caruso for a draft pick in this year’s draft and used it to draft Nikola Topic, would those upset feel any better? Because replacing Lonzo is clearly a priority and a fairly significant investment was going to be made regardless.

Giddey’s ceiling is arguably as high as any prospect in this draft if not the highest. He is exactly the type of high ceiling player AK should be acquiring. His size allows him to play next to Coby, Ayo, Pat, and Center while still being a primary playmaker. AK can add another high ceiling player like Holland maybe Salaun at 11 and fully embrace the youth movement for next year’s loaded draft.

I don't hate the trade but Giddey's ceiling isn't that high. He's a great passer but, without the scoring to go along with it, he'll be better coming off the bench for a good team.

[TheJordanRule]

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

Exactly. This is a weak draft, and they want picks out of it. Meanwhile, Giddey's only 21 and proven at a lot of things at the NBA level already. Giddey bad, draft picks good? Make it make sense!

[KissedByaRose1]

If you'e looking for bad news is for him to ever be an all star caliber player he'll need a much improved/around 40% 3 point shot. He shot 33% with Chip Engelland as his shooting coach last season. Lets hope he's a late bloomer.

[Dan Z]

Some thoughts on this trade:

- I've been advocating trading Alex for 2 seasons now, mostly because he is wasted here. When we had both he and Lonzo that was different, because they were a two-headed defensive monster that could guard 4 positions, but without him, Alex is just another super role player, on a meddling team. It's a shame we waited this long because we could have gotten a better package

- that said, Josh Giddey is ONLY 21 years old, and has proven playoff experience (albeit shaky performances), and he is already a very strong player. My biggest and most pressing concern is, great, you traded for a young proven player in this league who still has lots of room to grow, but what are you going to extend him for? Do you offer him an extension now after a somewhat down season, or do you get him to prove himself for a season first?

- the strengths for him is that he can play multiple positions, is a very strong passer, adequate defender, but a very inconsistent shooter. Until he gets his shot in a better position, there are going to be match ups with certain teams where he is almost unplayable. However, he is best with the ball in his hands where he can create for others, and with the OKC, he just wasn't going to have the ball in his hands as much as he should

- I don't like the fact that we didn't trade Alex sooner. But I do like Josh Giddey as a prospect and what he could become, though that remains to be seen. Remember, Coby took until his 5th year, to really take a significant leap, though he had some promising seasons prior, and Josh Giddey is several years younger than him

- I also like that we have become younger. Again, we aren't going anytime sooner, so I like the idea of bringing in younger players to to fill out the roster, and to continue to foster the young talent. I'm sure we will continue to bring in veterans to flesh out the roster, to still maintain some focus and professionalism.

- What I won't like is if Josh Giddey in the eyes of the front office ends up being another attempt to replace Lonzo, because they are vastly different players. Though Lonzo's vision is elite, he isn't a player that needs the ball in his hands to be effective with his passing, he is all about quick passes to the right spot and players, whereas Giddey needs the ball in his hands to create. Lonzo was an elite 3 point shooter, whereas Giddey is far from that. Lonzo was also an elite defender, and though Giddey has potential to be a solid defender, he is only adequate for him. What Giddey has is more size, he is a above average rebounder, and he has youth on his side. All he really needs to round out his game is a more consistent shot, and even that took Lonzo several years to achieve

Overall, I'm leaning slightly towards being positive about this trade, however, it's close, because we could have received more for Alex if we traded him last season.

I've heard many people say that Giddey can play multiple positions...can he really do that?

As you point out above he's best with the ball in his hands and isn't a good shooter. Do you want him defending small forwards?

[RedBulls23]

AC had more value than this, but when you have a bad EVP dealing with a great EVP, obviously the bad EVP gets swindled.

Giddey got benched because he can't defend or shoot in,
the playoffs, and the Bulls decide to trade their best asset for him? On top of him being a terrible fit with DeMar and Vuc.

I don't care at all who fits with either of those guys. Demar especially who we should let walk and isn't part of our future at all. I'm not so sure he's a bad fit with Vooch. We've had nothing at all even close to a Point Guard/real playmaker on the team since MLK day 2022 when Lonzo went down. Vooch might get a few freebies/better looks than he's used to with Giddeys passing/pushing the pace. This guy also has 2 playoff rounds under his belt and if we're smart we'll have him bring the ball up/hand him the keys from day 1 so it should energize him. Went 16 and 6 with SGA in 2022 on a 10 seed in the west. Of course i woulda loved draft picks but that doesn't ruin this for me at all. Just because OKC has them doesn't mean they have to give the to us and i'm sure there are lots of teams who would like Giddey.

His minutes decreased severely in the 2nd round due to his lack of shooting and bad defense.

And it's not about caring that he fits next to those guys long term. It's that the Bulls still plan on trying to win and keeping those guys.

[Clint Eastwood]

OKC basically benched him in the playoffs. Yikes.

The benched him in the series that they lost, not in the series that they won. Maybe they should have stuck with the formula that got them the number 1 seed in the west, where he started 80 games for them?

[madvillian]

OKC basically benched him in the playoffs. Yikes.

The benched him in the series that they lost, not in the series that they won. Maybe they should have stuck with the formula that got them the number 1 seed in the west, where he started 80 games for them?

I looked through his stats pretty thoroughly in addition to just the playoffs. He regressed last season and had middling numbers for a starter.

He's 21 but he was playing next to insane gravity. I have my doubts he's going to be anything other than a weak starter here next year.

He's also purely a PG. If he's not playing PG, he's useless. He limits what we can do with the roster.

[TheJordanRule]

The defense took a hit. Lavine, Demar, and Vuc..dont defend. Unless you get rid of two of these guys nothing has changed.

True... which is concerning since our defense is already inept. We cannot afford to take another hit. The FO has been acting like Vuce is some sort of sacred cow, which is apropos since cows are slow and get worshipped as gods for no reason. Move DDR and for the love of god get rid of Vuce please!!!!

[ChettheJet]

Can't wade through all the disappointed 'fans'.

Caruso was Chicago's second or third best player last year. If someone wanted a rebuild, this is it.

I have long thought that the players a team should target are recent disappointing draft picks. Draft picks themselves are fantastically overvalued. This fits the bill.

Overall, tough trade to swallow from a fan's standpoint. Caruso was one of the few bright spots the last few years. That said, at least this signals the end of continuity.

I'd say AC might have been the 3rd best player on a team that didn't make the playoffs. he needs to be the 4th or 5th best player on a team that is in the playoffs. What to watch for is who else OKC makes moves for, they aren't going to draft 2-3 kids and think they will advance farther in the playoffs. That will tell you how much they value Caruso.

I'm ALL in on picking up young players who haven't lived up to their draft hype or become instant all stars. Don't be afraid to be the team that Lauri and have him shine, it happens. So many posters fixate on value in a trade and negative value and picks. I look at where any deal leaves your rotation. The Bulls still could move Lavine and DeRozan and wouldn't need to get guards in return. They leave themselves flexible enough to be able to draft a guard or not. Never spoken of, has the Bulls FO watched Lonzo Ball work out?

Giddey got benched in the playoffs. Yeah well his team was in the playoffs, he played 80 games, wasn't injured nearly as often as the expiring Caruso.

Keeping Caruso would have lead down the path of resigning a 36 year old DeRozan until he was at least 38, definitely keeping Vucevic and maybe waiting until the deadline to move Lavine and you can't make that look like the right path t the playoffs in the next three years.

Younger, more athletic with room to grow hos game, get me 4 more like that.

[kulaz3000]

Some thoughts on this trade:

- I've been advocating trading Alex for 2 seasons now, mostly because he is wasted here. When we had both he and Lonzo that was different, because they were a two-headed defensive monster that could guard 4 positions, but without him, Alex is just another super role player, on a meddling team. It's a shame we waited this long because we could have gotten a better package

- that said, Josh Giddey is ONLY 21 years old, and has proven playoff experience (albeit shaky performances), and he is already a very strong player. My biggest and most pressing concern is, great, you traded for a young proven player in this league who still has lots of room to grow, but what are you going to extend him for? Do you offer him an extension now after a somewhat down season, or do you get him to prove himself for a season first?

- the strengths for him is that he can play multiple positions, is a very strong passer, adequate defender, but a very inconsistent shooter. Until he gets his shot in a better position, there are going to be match ups with certain teams where he is almost unplayable. However, he is best with the ball in his hands where he can create for others, and with the OKC, he just wasn't going to have the ball in his hands as much as he should

- I don't like the fact that we didn't trade Alex sooner. But I do like Josh Giddey as a prospect and what he could become, though that remains to be seen. Remember, Coby took until his 5th year, to really take a significant leap, though he had some promising seasons prior, and Josh Giddey is several years younger than him

- I also like that we have become younger. Again, we aren't going anytime sooner, so I like the idea of bringing in younger players to to fill out the roster, and to continue to foster the young talent. I'm sure we will continue to bring in veterans to flesh out the roster, to still maintain some focus and professionalism.

- What I won't like is if Josh Giddey in the eyes of the front office ends up being another attempt to replace Lonzo, because they are vastly different players. Though Lonzo's vision is elite, he isn't a player that needs the ball in his hands to be effective with his passing, he is all about quick passes to the right spot and players, whereas Giddey needs the ball in his hands to create. Lonzo was an elite 3 point shooter, whereas Giddey is far from that. Lonzo was also an elite defender, and though Giddey has potential to be a solid defender, he is only adequate for him. What Giddey has is more size, he is a above average rebounder, and he has youth on his side. All he really needs to round out his game is a more consistent shot, and even that took Lonzo several years to achieve

Overall, I'm leaning slightly towards being positive about this trade, however, it's close, because we could have received more for Alex if we traded him last season.

I've heard many people say that Giddey can play multiple positions...can he really do that?

As you point out above he's best with the ball in his hands and isn't a good shooter. Do you want him defending small forwards?

It would all be match up dependent, where Billy opts to go with Ayo, Coby and Giddey at the same time, and really try to speed up the game. And perhaps even have Giddey at power forward if he really wants to go small.

At the start of the season, I'm assuming that Coby goes back to shooting guard as a starter, and Josh starts at point guard which I think is the right call. And then you have the both of them as well as Ayo, being able to switch around at the guard spots and be quite versatile. That's a pretty solid young backcourt now.

[vtime]

You traded a reserve role player for a 21 year old jumbo pg who started on the #1 seed. A year removed from a 17, 8, and 6 season. Without a jump shot he’s still a far superior offensive player to Caruso, while being good defensively in his own right. And 9 years younger and under team control. What’s er the Bulls could’ve gotten in the past for Caruso in other deals has nothing to do with how good Giddey really is. Could definitely be a steal for the Bulls, not the other way around.

[aguifs]

What a friggin joke. Fu this franchise

[TheJordanRule]

Horrific trade.

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

Horrific? So who did you want for Caruso? I heard Shai wasn't available.

[RedBulls23]

You traded a reserve role player for a 21 year old jumbo pg who started on the #1 seed. A year removed from a 17, 8, and 6 season. Without a jump shot he’s still a far superior offensive player to Caruso, while being good defensively in his own right. And 9 years younger and under team control. What’s er the Bulls could’ve gotten in the past for Caruso in other deals has nothing to do with how good Giddey really is. Could definitely be a steal for the Bulls, not the other way around.

Giddey is not a good defender. Like at all.

[Mk0]

The sadness runs deep
Where once was joy is now pain
Together we cry

[ThisGuyFawkes]

OKC basically benched him in the playoffs. Yikes.

We can worry about that when we make the playoffs.

[TheJordanRule]

AC had more value than this, but when you have a bad EVP dealing with a great EVP, obviously the bad EVP gets swindled.

Giddey got benched because he can't defend or shoot in,
the playoffs, and the Bulls decide to trade their best asset for him? On top of him being a terrible fit with DeMar and Vuc.

I don't care at all who fits with either of those guys. Demar especially who we should let walk and isn't part of our future at all. I'm not so sure he's a bad fit with Vooch. We've had nothing at all even close to a Point Guard/real playmaker on the team since MLK day 2022 when Lonzo went down. Vooch might get a few freebies/better looks than he's used to with Giddeys passing/pushing the pace. This guy also has 2 playoff rounds under his belt and if we're smart we'll have him bring the ball up/hand him the keys from day 1 so it should energize him. Went 16 and 6 with SGA in 2022 on a 10 seed in the west. Of course i woulda loved draft picks but that doesn't ruin this for me at all. Just because OKC has them doesn't mean they have to give the to us and i'm sure there are lots of teams who would like Giddey.

His minutes decreased severely in the 2nd round due to his lack of shooting and bad defense.

And it's not about caring that he fits next to those guys long term. It's that the Bulls still plan on trying to win and keeping those guys.

They better not! That would be really dumb!

[madvillian]

You traded a reserve role player for a 21 year old jumbo pg who started on the #1 seed. A year removed from a 17, 8, and 6 season. Without a jump shot he’s still a far superior offensive player to Caruso, while being good defensively in his own right. And 9 years younger and under team control. What’s er the Bulls could’ve gotten in the past for Caruso in other deals has nothing to do with how good Giddey really is. Could definitely be a steal for the Bulls, not the other way around.

Giddey is not a good defender. Like at all.

and counting stats flatter him. by pace neutral metrics he was a weak starter. he also was playing next to a top 5 player and a top 25 player. We don't have that here. He also has to have the ball in his hands to be playable.

He's 21 and is a weak starter. That's the argument for him. There's a lot of arguments (imo) that this was a poor use of AC's value.

[Mk0]