Bulls Trade Alex Caruso To Thunder For Josh Giddey

The Chicago Bulls are trading Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday. View the trade details below.

Thunder Acquire Alex Caruso

The trade delivers the Thunder one of the league’s most coveted role players, a 30-year old guard who GM Sam Presti has long pursued for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed. Caruso’s arrival could be seen as an addition comparable to the Golden State Warriors acquisition of Andre…

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024

With Caruso, the Thunder add another versatile guard to their lineup. Considered one of the best role players in the NBA, Caruso's strength is defense, with an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection in 2023 and a Second Team selection in 2024.

Caruso, 30, ended the 2023-2024 season with averages of 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals on shooting splits of 46.8/40.8/76.0.

It's a reunion for Caruso and Oklahoma City's head coach, Mark Daigneault, who coached the 6'5″ guard on the Oklahoma City Blue in 2016-2017.

The Thunder now have three of the best defenders in the NBA: Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace.

Caruso is entering the final year of his contract and will be eligible to sign a four-year, $80 million contract extension in six months. Wojnarowski's report states that Thunder GM Sam Presti has been pursuing Caruso and hopes to keep him on the roster for the foreseeable future.

Bulls Land Josh Giddey

Mark Daigneault was Alex Caruso’s head coach for the Oklahoma City Blue way back in the 2016-17 season. The Thunder were the first team to sign Caruso as an undrafted free agent. Reunited again in OKC. pic.twitter.com/uhWhdi6RWn

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 20, 2024

For Giddey, it's a fresh start in Chicago.

The former No. 6 pick in the 2021 draft can step right into Chicago's lineup and be the playmaker they so desperately need. At 6'8″, Giddey has the vision and passing ability to orchestrate the Bulls' offense.

Giddey finished the 2023-2024 season with averages of 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Giddey started in all 80 games he played during the regular season. However, the Thunder benched Giddey for much of their postseason run.

Giddey's 3-point shooting (33.7%) must improve, but the 21-year-old fills a void at guard that the Bulls have not had since the Lonzo Ball injury.

Giddey enters the season in the final year of his rookie contract and can negotiate a rookie-scale extension.