The NBA season has been over for less than 72 hours, but we already have a significant trade ahead of next week’s NBA Draft.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year guard/forward Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for two-time NBA All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the trade Thursday afternoon on X.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/V3t12MA3Uo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024
The deal comes as a bit of a surprise, as Giddey had spent just three seasons with the Thunder, who drafted him sixth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. Giddey is coming off a career-low season in both points per game (12.3) and rebounds per game (6.4), but at just 21 years old and with a change of scenery, it could lead to the Australian breaking out in Chicago.
Caruso is entering the final year of his deal and becomes eligible for a four-year, approximately $80M extension exactly six months from the date of this trade. The Thunder made the trade with the hope to have Caruso as an integral player for the long-term. https://t.co/ZDO8fL4Js7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024
Wojnarowski also reported that part of the reason for dealing Caruso from a Bulls perspective was because he is in the last year of his contract and the Thunder now have a chance to sign him to an extension in early January, six months from when the trade is made official. Caruso provides a strong defensive presence for the young upstart Thunder while also helping keep the ball in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands as much as possible on offense.
Caruso is coming off a career-best year which saw him average 10.5 points and 1.7 steals per game, tying him for third in the NBA.
Social media had a lot to say about the deal.
Wow. Caruso will be a perfect fit for OKC. And Giddey’s youth makes way more sense for the Bulls, plus a nice fit with White. Mutually beneficial. Great deal.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 20, 2024
Y’all sleeping on the job once again @warriors
— 30🅿️roblemz (@30problemz) June 20, 2024
That’s it?
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) June 20, 2024
OKC got 10x better and Bulls got worse wow we really are the stupidest franchise
— mev 🏀🧸🌹 (@mevvybear) June 20, 2024
