Previously, the Bulls and Thunder made a deal to trade Caruso for Giddey.
Most of the analysis has focused on why the Bulls failed to get a draft pick from the draft-rich Thunder, ignoring the Giddey they got.
The general perception is that Caruso is clearly better than Giddey at the moment, but even the Bulls' serious premium in this trade raises two completely different questions.
First of all, how high is Giddey's potential? Second, is Chicago the perfect place to help him perform at his best?
How strong is Giddey?
Thunder general manager Presti has revealed that Giddey has All-Star potential that he can't play with the Thunder. While such an assessment may be an exaggeration, there is no denying that Giddey is a good seedling who is limited by the existing environment.
It's clear that Giddey isn't the type of plug-and-play player who can get on the court right away and play well, and that's been very evident during his time with the Thunder.
In the first two seasons of his career, Giddey has earned widespread praise for his performances and is expected to sign a contract extension with a maximum salary. In his sophomore year, Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, and only Magic Johnson and Doncic have been able to do it among players aged 20 or younger in NBA history.
At the time, CBS Sports pundits ranked him 15th among players under the age of 25, even ahead of rising stars such as Scottie Barnes, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. ESPN experts also rank him as the 53rd player in the league, ahead of the likes of Zion Williamson, Barnes and Rudy Gobert.
However, Giddey suffered a catastrophic decline in his third year, his market value plummeted, and he was even placed as a substitute, falling out of the top 100 list of all specialists.
So, what exactly led to Giddey's meteoric rise after the first two seasons, and what made him suffer such a dramatic change in his third season?
Giddey is 2.02 meters tall, but his passing skills are amazing, which is really rare. His size allows him to see the game and make all sorts of textbook passes, even those that have never been done before. He was bold and decisive in reading the game, being able to deliver the ball precisely to the back of the defender's head just a few centimetres the moment they turned.
This size also gives Giddey excellent rebounding ability, allowing him to inject a steady stream of energy into the team's offense with quick transitions.
Josh Giddey's shooting ability is undoubtedly a key part of his career. Under the tutelage of the league's top shooting coach, Chip Engelland, Giddey has progressed from a player who shoots poorly to a level where he can shoot about a third of the shots in the open position. However, opponents will still keep a defensive distance from him until he improves his shooting to the next level.
The question is whether Giddey can achieve the same level as T.J. McConnell's level of shooting from the open to around 40 percent?
Giddey's breakthrough was equally troubling. He wasn't very good at confrontation, which led to his over-reliance on efficient throws in the game and rarely being able to get to the free throw line. A lack of three-point shooting, an over-reliance on throws from out of 7 feet, and a scarcity of free throw opportunities combined to contribute to his inefficient scoring. Although he is able to score, it often requires a lot of shots.
In theory, Giddey's size and technique should allow him to suppress smaller defenders in the confrontation. In actual matches, however, he was unusually inefficient in these confrontations. Although his size seems to indicate that he will be a good defender, unfortunately he has been underperforming on the defensive end due to a lack of athleticism.
While Giddey may sound like he has a lot of problems, these weaknesses can be compensated for or hidden in the right team system. And Giddey's brilliant offensive creativity promises to outshine all of those negatives.
We've seen Giddey's success in the first two seasons, which gives us reason to believe he can continue to shine in the right environment.
Could Chicago be a new arena for him to showcase his talents? The answer is most likely yes.
Is the Bulls a good home for Giddey?
Giddey's biggest challenge with the Thunder is that he needs the ball in his hands to play at his best. But with the Thunder, there are better Fall Harvest Alexander and Jalen Williams, which makes it difficult for Giddey to get enough balls. He was unable to effectively open up space on the field and ended up being marginalized in the starting lineup.
Will Giddey face the same problem when he moves to Chicago?
The Bulls' roster is still in flux, and the outlook is difficult to predict. LaVine could choose to leave, while DeRozan could also leave as a free agent. If these two players ultimately choose to stay with the Bulls, Giddey may once again be in a dilemma of not playing with the ball.
Giddey needs to be on the pitch alongside a shooter and a good offensive finisher so he can create easy scoring opportunities for them. This makes his partnership with Kobe White a perfect fit, as White is more of a shooting guard than a pure playmaker.
Vucevic is the least suitable type of center forward to partner with Giddey. Ideally, Giddey needs a tall player who can compensate for his lack of one-on-one defense under the basket. Vucevic is one of the league's least productive shooters and one of the worst-protected centers under the basket. The Bulls will be subject to his inflated contract for the next two seasons, so a trade is necessary.
Patrick Williams is also a restricted free agent, and the Bulls agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract extension. Prior to Caruso's trade, letting Williams go might be an option. But now, the Bulls almost have to pay exorbitant prices to keep him. Williams is exactly the kind of 3-and-D wing player Giddey needs, and his stay will be crucial to the Bulls' tactical set-up.
Paving the way for Giddey
In trading Caruso, the Gagos Bulls seem to be sending a signal to the outside world that they are willing to slow down for a moment in order to better balance the roster.
In 2025, a big year for the talent-filled draft, the Bulls have a chance to select a rising star who would be a perfect match for Giddey. If they can deftly dispose of some of the veteran contracts, the Bulls could change most of their roster in the coming seasons, with the exception of Patrick Williams, Koby White and Ayo Dosumu, three players who already seem to fit in well with Giddey on paper.
If the Bulls choose this path, they could well emerge as one of the best teams in the league for Giddey to develop. By reshaping the roster and centering him with shooters and defensive stalems, Giddey will have a chance to become a second or third leader on a playoff team.
However, will such a team be able to reach the championship level?
Even so, Giddey is still expected to deliver impressive results in terms of stats, and his basketball style is not only spectacular, but also more likely to lead the Bulls back to the playoffs. That's exactly what the Bulls are after.
Originally, Giddey was now at his lowest value, but the Bulls were a little passive in the negotiations in order to get him, and paid a high price. However, they did bring back a promising new star who will be something to look forward to in the future.
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