Bulls trade Alex Caruso to OKC for Josh Giddey

[Dan Z]

We can’t even make the playoffs. Giddey started for a top 5 team at 21 years old. He struggled in the playoffs at 21. So what? DeRozan struggles in the postseason at 35, can’t shoot 3s and doesn’t play defense. And you want give him $40 million per and continue to waste time.

I’d rather have Giddey than the garbage in this draft. He would easily be a top 5 pick in this draft too.

he absolutely would not. high draft picks have superstar hopes. and the bulls need a superstar. giddey is just a nice player

High draft picks do have superstar hopes, but those expectations are rarely met even in the best draft years. This year also isn't considered a particularly strong draft, so i'd rather go with the young player who already shows he can play in the nba rather than the guy who might be an nba player, let alone a star.

The Bulls aren't going anywhere with or without Giddey. I'd rather take my chances on the unknown (along with more years of cost control).

I say that and I don't hate this trade. I know that it made sense to trade Caruso and Giddey isn't bad.

[kodo]

Read on Twitter

Was just about to make this post. He can't spot up. At all. He's like Vuc at his position. Maybe he improves, but bro, we are starting from a bad spot. I guess Lonzo learned to shoot...here's hoping.

He's ~36% on open 3s, about the same as SGA & Chet.

He doesn't take contested 3s, he drives or passes. The data for that 19% is a total of 26 shots all season, it's statistical noise that's meaningless considering he's taken 850 shots.

Vuc is 30% on wide open 3s. He's just bad no matter the situation this year.

[WindyCityBorn]

Hand the keys to Giddey and see how looks running the offense again. DeRozan simply has to go for this to work. Could even start Giddey at SF because of his size and rebounding ability.

Please let this signal the beginning of a true rebuild. This was clearly not a “win now” move.

It’s both a win now and future move. Giddey is a starting level player and he’s young. Maybe not better than AC right now but he’s a different type of player and could improve. Just last year he was considered a stud and future star.

If they wanted to rebuild or tank they would have simply gone the 2nd round draft pick route or salary dump.

Re tooling is probably the better word here. I expect Zach and Vuc to be next, maybe even Lonzo while Demar will re sign.

How can Giddey reach his potential standing in the corner while DeMar takes 15 iso midrange jumpers a game. Same thing has already happened with Pat. DeMar needs to go for the development of our younger players.

[madvillian]

Read on Twitter

Was just about to make this post. He can't spot up. At all. He's like Vuc at his position. Maybe he improves, but bro, we are starting from a bad spot. I guess Lonzo learned to shoot...here's hoping.

He's ~36% on open 3s, about the same as SGA & Chet.

He doesn't take contested 3s, he drives or passes. The data for that 19% is a total of 26 shots all season, it's statistical noise that's meaningless considering he's taken 850 shots.

Vuc is 30% on wide open 3s. He's just bad no matter the situation this year.

well the problem is he ain't gonna be passing to SGA or Chet here in Chicago. Again hope it works, but it will take some reconfiguring.

[Dan Z]

We can’t even make the playoffs. Giddey started for a top 5 team at 21 years old. He struggled in the playoffs at 21. So what? DeRozan struggles in the postseason at 35, can’t shoot 3s and doesn’t play defense. And you want give him $40 million per and continue to waste time.

I’d rather have Giddey than the garbage in this draft. He would easily be a top 5 pick in this draft too.

he absolutely would not. high draft picks have superstar hopes. and the bulls need a superstar. giddey is just a nice player

There is no superstar potential in this draft. This is considered one of the worst drafts of all time at the top. Giddey was #6 in a significantly better draft. The unknown is always worth more so yeah a #5 is worth more right now, but I’d rather have Giddey than just about any player in this draft.

Fair enough, but someone in this draft will be good. It's rare (ever?) that there's a draft where there isn't one or two very good players.

[Clint Eastwood]

This is precisely the trade I have been clamoring for. Im very pleased. Trade makes perfect sense for us. Obviously we need more changes, but this one was the one I most wanted.

Giddey has increased his 3pt percentage every year. He shot 33% last year. Lonzo ball in his age 21 season shot 32%…

He is very big, great positional size. Unique players are what we need.

He is an excellent rebounder.

He is only 21, and has been starting and playing productive nba basketball for all three years in the league. The upside is big.

Downside is lack of quickness and athleticism, but he has the size and strength and court vision to make that less important.

He is a great fit next to coby and ayo. We need to acquire some frontcourt athleticism and shot blocking.

I would be happy if we can acquire Matsulis somehow with our pick, and Knect would also be a good fit as we need lockdown shooting to pair with Giddey’s passing.

[chicago paxsons]

he absolutely would not. high draft picks have superstar hopes. and the bulls need a superstar. giddey is just a nice player

High draft picks do have superstar hopes, but those expectations are rarely met even in the best draft years. This year also isn't considered a particularly strong draft, so i'd rather go with the young player who already shows he can play in the nba rather than the guy who might be an nba player, let alone a star.

The Bulls aren't going anywhere with or without Giddey. I'd rather take my chances on the unknown (along with more years of cost control).

I say that and I don't hate this trade. I know that it made sense to trade Caruso and Giddey isn't bad.

The bulls could go somewhere, even somewhere good, but that depends on what else they do. I think this trade is a solid start, emphasis on start.

[RedBulls23]

All in all, this more bad asset management by the FO.

You certainly could have gotten more for AC at the deadline when teams have the chance of having him for 2 playoff runs. Less playoff runs makes the value certainly godown.

I sort of agree, but it would be risky to hold on to him for that long and hope he stays healthy. The guy has had durability issues the last 3 seasons and I can't see them improving heading into next.

I'm referring to this past season trade deadline when they didn't trade him.

[MrSparkle]

he absolutely would not. high draft picks have superstar hopes. and the bulls need a superstar. giddey is just a nice player

There is no superstar potential in this draft. This is considered one of the worst drafts of all time at the top. Giddey was #6 in a significantly better draft. The unknown is always worth more so yeah a #5 is worth more right now, but I’d rather have Giddey than just about any player in this draft.

Fair enough, but someone in this draft will be good. It's rare (ever?) that there's a draft where there isn't one or two very good players.

Plus there’s an advantage to having a guy cheap for 4y, as opposed to negotiating an extension in a year. I’ve got a feeling Giddey flames out ala Troy Brown Jr. You don’t come to Chicago and shoot the ball better. The pressure is up. This guy’s 3P% is gonna hit the Vuc fan.

[Dan Z]

High draft picks do have superstar hopes, but those expectations are rarely met even in the best draft years. This year also isn't considered a particularly strong draft, so i'd rather go with the young player who already shows he can play in the nba rather than the guy who might be an nba player, let alone a star.

The Bulls aren't going anywhere with or without Giddey. I'd rather take my chances on the unknown (along with more years of cost control).

I say that and I don't hate this trade. I know that it made sense to trade Caruso and Giddey isn't bad.

The bulls could go somewhere, even somewhere good, but that depends on what else they do. I think this trade is a solid start, emphasis on start.

I hope you're right. I still think they're far away from being competitive, but who knows. AK still has more to do.

[MrSparkle]

Honestly, this trade is terrifying. I’m not at all looking forward to draft night. We’re getting garbage for Zach. I don’t think Arturas knows how to do this job.

[madvillian]

Honestly, this trade is terrifying. I’m not at all looking forward to draft night. We’re getting garbage for Zach. I don’t think Arturas knows how to do this job.

It has a bit of the whiff of panic to it given all that's led us here.

[Dan Z]

There is no superstar potential in this draft. This is considered one of the worst drafts of all time at the top. Giddey was #6 in a significantly better draft. The unknown is always worth more so yeah a #5 is worth more right now, but I’d rather have Giddey than just about any player in this draft.

Fair enough, but someone in this draft will be good. It's rare (ever?) that there's a draft where there isn't one or two very good players.

Plus there’s an advantage to having a guy cheap for 4y, as opposed to negotiating an extension in a year. I’ve got a feeling Giddey flames out ala Troy Brown Jr. You don’t come to Chicago and shoot the ball better. The pressure is up. This guy’s 3P% is gonna hit the Vuc fan.

I wouldn't be surprised if Giddey shows some improvement (new environment, a year removed from the controversy stuff, etc.), but how much? Let's say he's slightly better...the next question will be how much is his next contract worth?

I guess we'll find out.

[GoBlue72391]

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A 19 year old should be in jail for dating a 17 year old? People are insane.

I hooked up with a 17 year old all the time when I was 19. She’s upstairs right now watching a movie with our 20 year old son.

Looks like it's jail for you, pal.

[Dez]

This unplayable thing is just idiotic, he's not unplayable.

He's also improved his 3P% every year.

[GoBlue72391]

How many times will Stacey say "Giddey up!" this season?

You just ruined my night

He might even throw in a "From down unda!" in an Aussie accent on the rare occasion Giddey hits a 3.

In fact, I know he will.

[Muzbar]

Not sure if I'm on reddit or realgm.

There's alot of doom and gloom in here about this trade, it's really not that bad on the surface.

As I said earlier, I don't love the trade, but I do like it. I'll surely miss Caruso and his 120% effort he puts into the defensive end, but I'm glad he went to a contender, he deserves that much.

But Giddey brings something to the table the Bulls have lacked for several seasons now, which is playmaking. Sure he's not a good outside shooter, but neither was Ayo and look at him this last season. I have every confidence that Peter Patton can adjust his shooting form.

[R3AL1TY]

To me this type of trade finally shows that the FO has the direction of going young rather than being a fake playoff contender with vets in the starting lineup up there in age. It also shows that they don't have faith in Lonzo ever being 100% like his old self which is a good thing. The only thing I'll knock unless it's part of a deal during draft night is no picks, but you're still technically getting back a lottery player that is a playmaker and is still young with potential.

[chicago paxsons]

There is no superstar potential in this draft. This is considered one of the worst drafts of all time at the top. Giddey was #6 in a significantly better draft. The unknown is always worth more so yeah a #5 is worth more right now, but I’d rather have Giddey than just about any player in this draft.

Fair enough, but someone in this draft will be good. It's rare (ever?) that there's a draft where there isn't one or two very good players.

Plus there’s an advantage to having a guy cheap for 4y, as opposed to negotiating an extension in a year. I’ve got a feeling Giddey flames out ala Troy Brown Jr. You don’t come to Chicago and shoot the ball better. The pressure is up. This guy’s 3P% is gonna hit the Vuc fan.

Giddey, still in his rookie contract, has shown more than troy brown jr has shown in his whole career. Giddey was a starter on a 57 win team who's stock only fell because he, at 21, struggled his first time playing in the postseason which is not at all uncommon.

Also, the cheap contract advantage is overblown since most players on their rookie contracts are barely playable except on tanking teams.

[Jo Jo English]

Thoughts a few hours after...

- If this signals that the Bulls are going to trigger a rebuild and go all in on making the effort to keep their 2025 1st rounder, then I feel a lot better about this.

- I still cannot believe that the Bulls could not pry at least some sort of draft asset back from OKC, considering their overflowing vault of future picks.

- The Bulls have a very brief window to determine if Giddey is a fundamental piece of this team's future. You have to give him every opportunity this season to see who he is. Put the ball in his hands. Let him flourish or flounder.

I still think the Bulls waited too long to capitalize on Caruso as an asset, but if this is the first move of this front office actually committing to a necessary rebuild, then so be it.