Bulls Trade Alex Caruso to Thunder for Josh Giddey

The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for 21-year-old guard Josh Giddey, according to sources reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Bulls have been in search of another playmaker to replace the frequently injured Lonzo Ball, and they believe Giddey can fulfill that role, Wojnarowski noted.

Last season, Giddey averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 assists over 80 games with the Thunder. He will now join forces with breakout guard Coby White, who recorded a career-high average of 19.1 points and 5.1 assists in his fifth season with the Bulls.

Wojnarowski highlighted that Giddey’s 11 triple-doubles rank fourth all-time for players aged 21 or younger, following Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson, and Ben Simmons.

This offseason, the Chicago management faces several significant decisions. Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is set to become an unrestricted free agent and may explore the market, despite previously expressing a desire to return to Chicago.

Additionally, Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has been attempting to trade two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. Reports indicate that up to 15 trade proposals involving the 29-year-old, who missed 57 games last season due to a foot injury, have been made.

For the Thunder, acquiring Caruso adds another defensive specialist to their lineup, complementing Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City boasted the league’s second-best defensive rating last season, trailing only the Orlando Magic, with a rating of 104.5.

Caruso, 30, achieved a career-high average of 10.1 points while shooting 40.8% from three-point range last season with Chicago. He was also nominated to his second consecutive All-Defensive team.

Previously, Caruso played under Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault as a member of the Oklahoma City Blue during the 2016-17 season.

The undrafted guard has $3 million guaranteed of his $9.9-million salary for the upcoming season, while Giddey carries a cap hit of $8.3 million and is eligible for a rookie extension until late October, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

The Thunder are making this deal with the hope of signing Caruso to a four-year contract worth approximately $80 million when he becomes extension-eligible in six months, according to Wojnarowski.