The Chicago Bulls‘ offseason has featured only a handful of storylines, with one of them being the re-signing of their guard, Josh Giddey. As a restricted free agent, Giddey has faced some challenges in securing a new contract. But NBA insider Jake Fischer recently shed more light on the situation.
Fischer claimed that the Bulls had offered Giddey a four-year deal, worth $80 million. He wrote:
“League sources say that the Bulls made an offer of $80 million over four years to restricted free agent Josh Giddey when the offseason commenced on June 30. Giddey, of course, is seeking an annual salary in the $30 million range. Chicago has been anchored in the $20 million range in annual value ever since its original offer.”
The offer presented by Chicago is the standard deal for most restricted free agents this season, except for rare cases like Cam Thomas. The general figure of $20 million a year appears to be the trend. Unfortunately, this is not something that Giddey appears to be interested in.
It is a widely known fact that the Bulls guard has been seeking a deal that amounts to a rough estimate of $30 million a year. Given the state of most teams concerning the luxury tax aprons, franchises have been hesitant to make an offer of this nature. This has resulted in prolonged negotiations with neither side willing to budge.
Considering that no deal has been signed, it is evident that Giddey isn’t satisfied with the Bulls’ offer. This leaves the door open for potential trade discussions.
Recent reports have suggested that the Golden State Warriors could be inclined to trade for Giddey. The Warriors could trade Jonathan Kuminga for the Bulls guard, allowing the Dubs to add a multifaceted playmaker.
Given the Warriors’ predicaments involving their restricted free agent, there may be some roadblocks. In the overall sense, however, acquiring Giddey could be in Golden State’s best interests.
At 6’8″ and only 22 years old, Giddey is an extremely talented guard. Given his expansive offensive skill set, he is sure to bring a lot of versatility and creativity to the table. Last season, the Bulls guard recorded an average of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists, while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range.
While the interest from the Warriors appears to be genuine, the Bulls may also wish to invest in retaining a player like him. Although the franchise doesn’t have a direction at the moment, Chicago has the potential to improve.
Featuring a young core, with players like Matas Buzelis and Coby White, the Bulls would benefit from retaining Giddey to develop into a competitive side in the future.
