When the Chicago Bulls traded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey, many were puzzled about why Chicago swapped an elite All-Defensive Second-Team player for a point guard who had just come off a disappointing and controversial season. After Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas gave his usual vague explanation for the trade, Giddey made his intentions clear: he wants to start.

While Giddey’s season has been filled with ups and downs, nonetheless, it doesn’t change the fact that Karnišovas needs to decide on Giddey’s future as a Bull this summer.

Cons: The Inevitable Overpay

The Chicago Bulls acquired Giddey at the end of his contract year, allowing them to either re-sign him early or wait until after the 2025 NBA Finals to extend an offer. The issue is that Karnisovas has a history of re-signing players early to avoid a competitive market, which often results in significant overpays for players like Patrick Williams and Nikola Vucevic. With Giddey reportedly seeking close to $30 million per season, fans are concerned that history will repeat itself.

There’s a possibility Giddey may explore restricted free agency, especially since teammate Ayo Dosunmu had to after a disappointing season, and Giddey has been quite inconsistent thus far. His defensive woes have been too alarming to hope he improves, so the front office must keep that in mind when discussing roster construction.

Pros: Impactful Player

Although Giddey has been inconsistent this season, there’s no denying that he finds a way to help win games. The Bulls have a record of 14 wins and six losses in the 20 games where Giddey recorded a box plus-minus (BPM) of plus three or more.

They are also 13-7 when he had a true shooting percentage (TS%) of 60% or higher. Giddey has shown growth this season, shooting a career-high 34.5% from beyond the arc on nearly four attempts per game.

While these statistics may not seem impressive for a player on a team with a record below .500, they indicate that Giddey has contributed to the team’s wins more often than not.

Resolution

Giddey is anticipated to stay with the Bulls beyond this season, and that may be good at the right price. His passing and rebounding skills complement rookie Matas Buzelis, who should concentrate on scoring. Although Giddey may not become a star, he has the potential to be a valuable complementary player for many years if he can find consistency.