The Chicago Bulls have been engaged in a drawn-out negotiation with their guard Josh Giddey this offseason. As a restricted free agent, Giddey’s prospects have been limited, but he has garnered a lot of interest from teams around the league.
On this note, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer revealed that the Bulls have been quite keen on retaining him, despite the ongoing challenges with signing a deal. While speaking on “NBA Insider Notebook“, Fischer said:
“Chicago doesn’t want to lose Josh Giddey at all. They’ve been telling other teams, they’ve been telling agents since the combine, that they are not interested in having any discussion whatsoever with Josh Giddey. They value Josh Giddey.”
Fischer continued to highlight Chicago’s investment in the 22-year-old by drawing attention to the Bulls’ decision to trade a key rotation player in Alex Caruso to acquire Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer.
While Caruso had a strong impact on winning with the Thunder, even aiding their efforts in winning the NBA championship this year, Chicago maintains faith in their young guard.
“They traded Alex Caruso straight up for Josh Giddey when they had offers from various teams over the years for multiple first-round picks for Alex Caruso,” Fischer continued. “That’s how much they value Josh Giddey. They see him as a major focal point of their roster moving forward.”
“But they are not going to engage in any sign-and-trade scenario, and they’re not really going to move off their offer. So this is a holding pattern”.
The mention of a sign-and-trade could be attributed to the rumors linking Giddey with the Golden State Warriors. Given that the Warriors are facing their own challenges while negotiating with Jonathan Kuminga, the potential for a swap deal seemed intriguing. But this seems to have little to no merit in light of Fischer’s update.
Chicago’s intentions of retaining Giddey could be viewed positively by the fan base, especially in light of Nikola Vucevic’s recent address. With the center certain to start the season with the team, the Bulls have retained some core pieces. Signing Giddey to a long-term deal appears to be the final piece of the puzzle this season.
This, however, has also been part of the challenge. Much like many restricted free agents, Giddey is expecting a deal that is worth roughly $30 million annually. The Bulls, who have remained firm in their stance, haven’t been willing to offer more than a two-year, $40 million deal.
Last season, Giddey put up an average of 14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range.
Acting as the primary playmaking option for the team, the Australian has shown promise alongside Coby White and Matas Buzelis. This trio has all the makings of a solid core.
Unfortunately, the negotiations between Giddey and the Bulls are expected to drag on, as both parties work toward an agreement. In this regard, there may not be a noteworthy update on the matter until training camp begins in the first week of October.
