The NBA saw a trade between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls, involving guards Josh Giddey and Alex Caruso. This deal was officially announced by both teams, with Caruso moving to Oklahoma City and Giddey heading to Chicago. The Bulls are looking to get younger by bringing in the 21-year-old Giddey, while the Thunder are adding a seasoned guard in Caruso.
Giddey, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, had an impressive season with the Thunder in 2023-24. He started a career-high 80 games and averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Throughout his three NBA seasons, Giddey has shown consistent performance, with career averages of 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.
On the other hand, Caruso has had a journey through the NBA, starting with the Thunder as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He then moved to the Lakers on a two-way deal before joining the Bulls as a free agent. In his career spanning the Lakers and the Bulls, Caruso has contributed 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He was part of the Lakers team that won the NBA championship in 2019-20 and was recognized with the NBA Hustle Award for the 2023-24 season.
The trade came as a result of differing views on Giddey’s future role within the Thunder organization. General manager Sam Presti noted that while Giddey has All-Star potential, the team’s evolving dynamics called for a different approach to maximize his talents. This led to discussions about potential opportunities elsewhere, ultimately resulting in the decision to prioritize the organization’s best interests.
Overall, the trade between the Thunder and the Bulls brings a mix of youth and experience to both teams. Giddey’s potential and Caruso’s proven track record offer exciting prospects for their respective new teams. As the NBA continues to see player movement and strategic roster decisions, fans can expect an intriguing season ahead with these new additions in play.