While most fans and observers agree that the Chicago Bulls I got the wrong end of the stick In their Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a prominent NBA analyst claims Chicago will be better off after the deal.
In a rare one-way trade, the Bulls sent fan-favorite Caruso to OKC in exchange for the 21-year-old Australian point guard. In his third season, Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25.1 minutes per game, the lowest averages of his career.
“I thought Chicago won the trade,” Simmons said. on his podcast“To me, it was one of the cheapest NBA trades of this century.”
“I think people forgot how good he was and how he was in a weird situation on a team that didn’t really need him. And now he’s going to go to a team that’s not that good, but it’s going to be like, ‘Yo, Josh Giddey, you’re good and here’s the ball.’ I think he’s an asset.”
As the Thunder secured first place in the Western Conference, Giddey faced allegations of inappropriate relationship with a minor who pursued him throughout the year. The case was eventually dropped, but the damage to his reputation was severe.
However, Giddey is 10 years younger than Caruso, cheaper and three inches taller. His versatility at shooting guard (Giddey has 11 career triple-doubles) makes him an interesting fit for Bulls stars Coby White, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
While he’s not as talented as a defender or as prolific from beyond the three-point line, Giddey also provides a reasonable facsimile of Lonzo Ball in case he can’t return after missing the last two seasons recovering from knee surgery.
“He’s a small forward but also a leader, he’s big, he rebounds, he just fills up the scoresheet, he’s fun to play with, the ball moves with him,” Simmons said.
Giddey has potential, that’s not the point. The question for the Bulls is whether they can tap into that potential quickly, since Giddey is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Will Chicago make a long-term investment in Josh Giddey, or will he become a piece to exploit for another trade in the future?
It seems that for Bill Simmons the answer is pretty clear.
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