Just a couple of days after the end of the 2023-2024 NBA season with the Boston Celtics hoisting up their 18th championship, there have been other teams hard at work to improve their roster and it started with the Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was reported Thursday by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the Bulls are trading Alex Caruso to the Thunder for Josh Giddey as the news calls for trade grades.
A look at the trade from the Thunder's point of view
Oklahoma City gets a player in Caruso that has become an exceptional two-way player that can excel on both sides of the ball. The move signals that Caruso will not be taking the spotlight away from the team's own “Big Three” which is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams which also contains another point.
The point being is that the main three players on the Thunder and the team around them are a youthful group that get a veteran player that can mesh well with the scheme. The same sentiments were echoed by Wojnarowski who revealed that Thunder general manager Sam Presti had been wanting Caruso and compares him to when former player Andre Iguodala joined the Golden State Warriors in 2013.
“The trade delivers the Thunder one of the league’s most coveted role players, a 30-year old guard who GM Sam Presti has long pursued for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Caruso’s arrival could be seen as an addition comparable to the Golden State Warriors acquisition of Andre Iguodala in 2013. Both were 30 years old.”
“Caruso will be eligible for a four-year, $80 million contract extension six months from the date of this trade,” Wojnarowski continued. “He's entering the final year of his contract. The Thunder made the deal with hopes of keeping Caruso as an integral part of their team for the long term, sources said.”
Also when judging by the past, the Thunder waited for the right time to get Caruso as at one point, it was reported and said by ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Siegel that the Bulls wanted multiple first-round picks at one point for the 30-year old. This time around, Oklahoma City only had to trade a player in Josh Giddey.
A look at the trade from the Bulls' point of view
Despite all the controversies that happened off the floor, the type of player that the Bulls are getting in Giddey is a question mark, especially judging by his performance last season. But then again, the Thunder might have had too many mouths to feed with the aforementioned “Big Three,” so possibly a new team could be good for the 21-year old.
As said just now, while he struggled last season as he took a dip in scoring, he is still very young where he can develop into a playmaker that Chicago desperately needs as they continue to deal with the injury of Lonzo Ball. Wojnarowski would talk about how Giddey gives the Bulls “All-Star potential” heading in to his fourth season in the NBA.
“The Bulls have been determined to find a playmaker to replace Lonzo Ball, and Giddey, 21, comes with an All-Star potential that would unlikely be realized with the Thunder because of the playmaking starpower who surrounded him,” Wojnarowski wrote. “The Bulls will offer him an opportunity to have the ball in his hands and so much more freedom pass and score.”
While there are still question marks surrounding Giddey, there is no doubt that the former No. 6 overall pick still has some talent that could be unlocked with the Bulls. Last season with the Thunder, Giddey averaged 12.3 points (16.6 the season before), 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field.
Trade grades and final thoughts
To wrap it up, both teams ended up benefitting here as the Thunder get a piece that gets them closer to higher aspirations and the Bulls get a young player that can develop into a crucial piece for their future. However, in terms of the grading, it will be decided by immediate impact and fit.
For that system, the Thunder would end up winning the trade as Caruso has established himself as one of the best role players in the entire association. As for Chicago, while Giddey does have talent, there are still some adjustments he needs to make to be their featured playmaker next to the likes of a Coby White.
Still, it is important to remember that the Thunder and Bulls are at two different points where the former is likely to improve and be a contender while the other has been teetering on the play-in tournament and elimination. With the simple question of who got better with this trade, Oklahoma City takes it for now.
Oklahoma City Thunder Grade: A-
Chicago Bulls grade: B-
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