A Major NBA Guard Swap
The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Josh Giddey, according to sources cited by ESPN on Thursday.
This trade brings the Thunder one of the league’s most sought-after role players. Caruso, a 30-year-old guard, has long been targeted by Thunder general manager Sam Presti. Caruso’s arrival is likened to the Golden State Warriors’ acquisition of Andre Iguodala in 2013, when Iguodala was also 30 years old.
The Bulls have been seeking a playmaker to replace Lonzo Ball, and Giddey, at 21, offers All-Star potential that was unlikely to be realized with the Thunder due to the playmaking talent surrounding him. Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was the MVP runner-up this past season, and the franchise’s plans to increase 7-footer Chet Holmgren’s playmaking duties contributed to Giddey’s limited opportunities.
Giddey, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, has developed into one of the league’s most creative young playmakers. The Bulls will give him more freedom to handle the ball, pass, and score, providing the engine their offense needs.
Giddey played a career-high 80 games for the Thunder this past season but started coming off the bench in the Western Conference playoffs. His scoring average dropped from 16.6 points last season to 12.3 points this season as his role evolved. Giddey has recorded 11 career triple-doubles, the fourth most all-time by a player aged 21 or younger, behind Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson, and Ben Simmons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Caruso shot 41% on 3-pointers and ranked fourth in steals in the NBA last season. He was second in defensive half-court matchups against 2024 NBA All-Star players, behind only his new Thunder teammate, Luguentz Dort, per ESPN Stats & Info. Caruso’s addition gives the Thunder three of the best on-ball defenders among league guards, including Caruso, Dort, and Cason Wallace.
Caruso will be eligible for a four-year, $80 million contract extension six months from the date of this trade. He is entering the final year of his contract. The Thunder aim to keep Caruso as a long-term part of their team, sources said. Giddey is eligible to negotiate a rookie-scale extension as part of the 2021 draft class.
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