The Josh Giddey saga with the Bulls is officially over. According to Shams Charania, the Bulls have reached an agreement with the 22-year-old guard on a four-year, $100 million deal. He’s now locked in with Chicago through the 2028-29 season.
“Restricted free agent Josh Giddey has reached an agreement on a four-year, $100 million contract to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, agent Daniel Moldovan of Lighthouse Sports Management told ESPN on Tuesday,” reported Shams. “The deal is fully guaranteed and contains no player or team options.”
The news comes after weeks of speculation about his future, amid perceived tension between Giddey’s camp and the Bulls front office. After a career year with the franchise, where he averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game on 46.5% shooting, the former Thunder guard established himself as a leader of the Bulls and a key piece of their future.
This contract now makes Giddey the team’s highest-paid player, and one of the league’s highest-paid young players at just 22 years old. Still, it fell short of Giddey’s $30 million-per-year target and only came after lengthy negotiations.
This summer, Giddey was holding out in hopes of making at least $30 million per year, but he had to “settle” for this $100 million deal. His situation was just one of three active standoffs in the NBA restricted free agent market, and he’s the biggest winner so far. Cam Thomas and Jonathan Kuminga were seeking similar deals, but neither has gotten anywhere close to Giddey’s contract (roughly $25 million per year).
In Brooklyn, the Nets were one of the only teams with cap space to spend, and they still weren’t willing to meet Thomas’ demands. After months of failed negotiations, Cam settled on the $6 million qualifying offer that could set him up for a massive pay raise next offseason.
Of course, the standoff with Jonathan Kuminga has yet to reach a conclusion. Not only does he feel slighted by the Warriors’ offer, but he feels they’ve been actively holding him back with limited playtime on the court.
So while this summer still has plenty of unresolved dilemmas, Giddey’s future is one thing that’s been assured. After three years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was traded the summer before their title run and has joined a Bulls team with no clear direction. In the process, however, Giddey has taken on a bigger role and found a way to contribute on a more impactful level.
With players like Giddey, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic leading the way, expectations are modest for the Bulls this upcoming season, but they may only be one piece away from becoming a real playoff threat in the East. At the very least, they’ll have the assets to explore adjustments before February’s trade deadline.
Only time will tell how this Bulls team stacks up to the competition, but securing Giddey was the first step toward building a brighter future. If they can start to establish a real identity around defense, teamwork, and attention to detail, it will go a long way toward improving their standing.
Locking in Josh Giddey ensures the Bulls have a centerpiece to build around, but the job is far from finished. His deal signals belief in his future, yet the franchise must continue adding the right pieces if it wants to climb back into contention. The Giddey signing is a strong first step, and now it’s on the Bulls to keep moving forward.
