Bulls PG Josh Giddey welcomed trade over backup role in OKC
Tue Jun 25 4:21pm ET
Field Level Media
New Bulls point guard Josh Giddey touched down briefly in Chicago on Sunday and was formally introduced on Tuesday before he embarks on his next mission with the Australian national team at the Summer Olympics.
Giddey, 21, was acquired on Friday in a one-for-one trade for Alex Caruso to be given a chance to fill the point guard role the Bulls envisioned Lonzo Ball filling the past several seasons.
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said the deal came about when the Thunder approached him about running the second unit.
"At this point in my career, I'm 21 years old, it wasn't something I was overly eager to do. I said to him, 'Look, at this point in my career it's not something I'm trying to do,'" Giddey said at his introductory press conference.
It's a new start for Giddey, who said he understands the Bulls are heavily armed with guard options and is willing to compete for his role.
"I haven't asked -- I focused on getting here and getting focused," Giddey said. "My job is just to make the game easy for everyone else. ... That's kind of how I see myself, making basketball and the game easier for those around me."
Giddey, the No. 6 pick in the 2021 draft, was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor in Newport Beach, Calif., but authorities and the NBA said they were unable to corroborate any allegations of criminal activity and closed the case in January. Asked how the matter impacted him last season, Giddey declined to comment on "anything regarding that situation."
With a shifting role in Oklahoma City, where is role changed from his first two years, Giddey said he didn't adapt quickly to playing off the ball in deference to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"It was just a year of adjusting and learning different things," Giddey said.
Giddey said he's thought about a contract extension a lot in the past year but understands the trade might change his expectations. He's not planning to force the issue as he becomes eligible for a new contract before the season.
Ball has missed all but 35 games since a sign-and-trade deal brought him to the Bulls from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021. While he sounded optimistic in May about playing again this season, Ball hasn't been fully cleared medically.
Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in 2023-24. In 210 career games, he averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists with the Thunder. He said a flip switched in his mind entering the offseason that he needs to make sure he's ready to go defensively to avoid a diminished role in the postseason.
While he's in Paris with the Australian team, Giddey said he will be in contact with Bulls coach Billy Donovan and others to make sure he has the best understanding of his role and the system when he arrives at training camp.
"We haven't spoke style yet. Style of play, roles, all of those things we haven't discussed," Giddey said.
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has been one of the bigger dominoes in the early goings of this offseason. At first, there were reports that the Pelicans were unlikely to offer him a max contract. Now, it seems the team is trying to get a deal done, but they are prepared to search the trade market if they don't get a deal done that is friendly for both sides. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the teams interested in a trade as they search for a third star to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Other teams mentioned are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, but they would have more hoops to jump through in terms of contract numbers. According to Jake Fischer, one team that could emerge as a trade suitor is the Sacramento Kings who are looking to upgrade from Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes.
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson hasn't progressed with contract talks and the expectation is now that he's going to become an unrestricted free agent. According to Sam Amick and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, two teams that are interested in the four-time champ are the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. The Sixers have more cap space at the moment with over $60 million available and a whole team that they still have to construct. The Nuggets, on the other hand, have been shedding salary and don't seem likely to retain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Thompson hasn't been the same impact player that he was before the major injuries, but his shooting and defense can still help a high-level team at this point.
Detroit Pistons guard Quentin Grimes will be moved to his third team in the same calendar year. As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons have agreed to trade him to the Dallas Mavericks for Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks. Grimes was moved to the Pistons from the New York Knicks before the trade deadline this year in the same deal that sent Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks to New York. Grimes is currently on an expiring deal, so it looks like the Mavericks made this move to shed salary, and it's unclear if Grimes will stay on the roster. This past season, he averaged 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 51 total appearances.
Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is on his way to Detroit on Friday after the two sides agreed to a trade. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Hardaway and three second-round picks are going to the Pistons while Quentin Grimes is coming to Dallas. The veteran shooter was a mainstay in the team's offense over the last five seasons. When it came to their Finals run this season, Hardaway was relegated to the bench and saw the least amount of time on the court in his Dallas tenure. He played 12.7 minutes per contest throughout the playoffs and didn't get on the court at all at some points. During the regular season, he averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.7 threes per game while shooting .402/.353/.852.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley has agreed to sign a new contract that will keep him in Toronto for the next five years. According to Shams Charania, the deal is worth $175 million for five years. Quickley was a restricted free agent and would have hit the free agency market if they couldn't get a deal done by June 30. Instead, the 25-year-old will be sticking around after being traded to the Raptors in the deal that sent OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks. Through 38 games last season, the Kentucky product averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 threes, and 1.8 turnovers per game. This contract solidifies Quickley as a cornerstone piece to the team along with Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett.
The Sacramento Kings traded point guard Davion Mitchell and forward Sasha Vezenkov to the Toronto Raptors for forward Jalen McDaniels on Thursday, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The trade gives the Kings some flexibility, opening up a roster spot. Mitchell was the No. 9 pick in 2021. Last season he averaged 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15.3 minutes per game. Vezenkov averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds during his first season in the NBA. McDaniels averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in his only season as a Raptor.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Atlanta Hawks traded forward AJ Griffin to the Houston Rockets in exchange for the 44th pick of the NBA draft on Thursday. Griffin, a 2022 first-round pick out of Duke, had a limited role during his second year in Atlanta, averaging 2.4 points in 8.6 minutes across 20 outings coming off the bench. However, the 20-year-old spent the majority of the year in the G League or sidelined with an injured ankle. As a Rocket, Griffin will not make an impact in fantasy as he will have to battle for playing time.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram is reportedly eager to remain on the team. "Brandon wants to stay here," said Pelicans president David Griffin during his post-draft availability. "He believes in what we're building. That's meaningful to us. It's meaningful to him. I think it's meaningful to his agent. At the same time, there's a financial reality that we all deal with." We could still see Ingram in a new uniform next season because the Pelicans aren't willing to offer him a max extension. He is eligible for a four-year, $208 million deal. Ingram's health issues -- he has played 60-plus games just three times since his rookie year -- and playoff struggles make him a risky investment for New Orleans.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler doesn't intend to sign an extension this year and plans to hit free agency next summer. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Butler will not sign an extension with the Heat or any other team. Charania added that Butler is "determined" to have a big season in 2024-25 to earn himself a major payday. The six-time All-Star has two years remaining on his current contract but can opt out of it in 12 months' time. A highly motivated Butler should be an exciting sight for fantasy managers. He tends to cruise through the regular season but has been godly at times in the playoffs.
Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon might not remain on the team for long. After he was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that Brogdon could be moved elsewhere in a trade. Washington has fully entered a rebuilding mode, and it doesn't make sense for them to keep ahold of a 31-year-old veteran. Especially someone like Brogdon, who should have decent trade value as a recent Sixth Man of the Year award winner. The Virginia product seems to be on the move every summer these days. But he could still be useful to several teams with career averages of 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has drawn heavy links with the Houston Rockets this week, but he isn't expected to leave the team after his first full season in Arizona. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, there is a "zero percent" chance Phoenix will move Durant this offseason. The Suns reportedly still have a big belief in the current roster's ability to compete for a championship, and the Big Three of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will remain intact under new head coach Mike Budenholzer. Durant will turn 36 in September, but he continues to perform at a very high level and should be expected to do so again in 2024-25.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland appears ready to remain on the team. Following Cleveland's second-round exit against Boston, multiple reports suggested he will be looking for a change of scenery if Donovan Mitchell ties himself long-term with the franchise. Mitchell is now on the cusp of agreeing to an extension with the Cavaliers. But according to ESPN's Zach Lowe, this won't affect Garland's future on the team. Speaking on the most recent episode of The Lowe Post, Lowe said Garland "is cool with the current situation." Garland ran into health issues this season and took a step back, averaging 18.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. However, he was an All-Star just two years ago and should be capable of getting back to the level.
Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is set to miss the start of next season. Porzingis suffered a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon during the NBA Finals and needs surgery. "Kristaps, after his surgery, we don't know exactly when he'll be back," said Celtics president Brad Stevens on The Ryen Russillo Podcast. "But, you know, he'll probably miss at least the very start of the season." Luckily for Boston, they have Al Horford waiting in the wings, and he's proven himself to be a very capable deputy to Porzingis. Stevens also suggested that the Celtics might experiment with different things without Porzingis. "And so that'll be a great opportunity for us to do things different and have to find different solutions and those types of things that come with it," Stevens said.
The Washington Wizards acquired guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in exchange for forward Deni Avdija. The 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds with the Trail Blazers last season. He also shot 41.2% from behind the arc. However, due to injury, Brogdon was limited to only 39 games in Portland. Nagging ailments have been the norm for him throughout his career. Although the 31-year-old can play at an All-Star level, fantasy managers will look in other directions until he proves he can stay healthy.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton plans to sign a four-year, $100 million deal to remain with the team. The Nets are heading toward a rebuild. However, Claxton remains a pivotal piece of the Nets' long-term plans. He's played at least 71 games in the last two seasons, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 62.9% from the field. It's reasonable to assume the 25-year-old will improve, especially on the scoring end, if Brooklyn can't bring in a reliable scorer to replace Mikal Bridges, who was traded to the Knicks on Tuesday evening.
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired forward Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night in exchange for guard Malcolm Brogdon, the No. 14 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, and a 2029 draft pick. The 23-year-old spent four seasons with the Wizards. But he easily had the best year of his career in 2023-24, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He also shot 37.9% from behind the arc. Avdija still has plenty of untapped potential, and there aren't many players in the National Basketball Association who are more durable.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, New York Knicks forwardOG Anunobyintends to sign a five-year, $212.5 million contract extension with the Knicks. The extension includes a player option and trade kicker. He became an unrestricted free agent bydeclining the player optionfor the final season of the four-year, $72 million contract he inked with Toronto in 2020. Anunoby averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 34.9 minutes during 23 contests for New York in the regular season. The 26-year-old was sidelined for most of the final two months of the regular season with a loose bone fragment in his right elbowthat required surgery.
According to Tony East of SI.com, the Indiana Pacers have submitted a qualifying offer to forwardObi Toppin, making him a restricted free agent. Toppin is coming off a solid postseason, during which he suited up for 17 games and averaged 20.2 minutes, 10.9 points, and 4.4 rebounds, helping the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. During the regular season, he was a part of one of the best benches, as Indiana was the highest-scoring second unit in the league.
According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Miami Heat centerBam Adebayo is expected to sign a three-year contract extension worth $166 million to stay in South Beach. Adebayo has two years remaining on his current deal. However, the 26-year-old is coming off another excellent season, averaging 19.3 points and a career-high 10.4 rebounds while shooting 35.7% from behind the arc. He will go early in fantasy drafts for the upcoming season as he is one of the most dominant centers in the NBA.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. has been linked with a move back to the Eastern Conference. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons have emerged as a potential trade destination for the former Knicks and Hawks player. It's hard to imagine Hardaway Jr. staying in Dallas for another campaign after he fell out of the rotation in the 2024 playoffs. However, he enjoyed a solid regular season, averaging 14.4 points, and could definitely do a good job for several other teams.