Bulls Trade Caruso to Thunder for Giddey
The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for 21-year-old guard Josh Giddey, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Bulls have been in search of another playmaker to replace the oft-injured Lonzo Ball, and they believe Giddey can fulfill that role, Wojnarowski reported.
Giddey averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 assists in 80 games with OKC last season. He will now join forces with breakout guard Coby White, who posted career-best averages of 19.1 points and 5.1 assists in his fifth season with the Bulls.
According to Wojnarowski, Giddey's 11 triple-doubles rank fourth all-time among players 21 or younger, trailing only Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson, and Ben Simmons.
Chicago's management faces several significant decisions this offseason. Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is set to become an unrestricted free agent and may explore the open market, despite expressing a desire to return to Chicago.
Additionally, Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has been actively trying to trade two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. Chicago has reportedly proposed up to 15 trades involving the 29-year-old, who missed 57 games last season due to a foot injury.
For the Thunder, acquiring Caruso adds another defensive asset alongside Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC already boasted the league's second-best defensive rating at 104.5, just behind the Orlando Magic.
Caruso, 30, achieved a career-high average of 10.1 points while shooting 40.8% from three-point range last season with Chicago. He was also named to his second consecutive All-Defensive team.
Caruso previously played for Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Blue during the 2016-17 season.
The undrafted guard has $3 million guaranteed of his $9.9 million salary for next season, while Giddey carries a cap hit of $8.3 million and is rookie-extension eligible until late October, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The Thunder made the trade with the hope of signing Caruso to a four-year deal worth approximately $80 million when he becomes extension-eligible in six months, Wojnarowski added.
