The Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a trade on Thursday, with the Bulls sending Alex Caruso in exchange for Josh Giddey, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/V3t12MA3Uo
Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024
Caruso signed a four-year, $37 million contract in 2021; entering the final year of that contract made him a popular trade prospect, with the expectation that the Bulls would send him somewhere before the 2024-2025 season began.
With the trade, Caruso returns to Oklahoma City, where he began his career on the Oklahoma City Blue, then part of the NBA’s Development League. Additionally, current Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, who coached the Blue from 2014 to 2019, coached Caruso during the 2016-2017 season.
Mark Daigneault was Alex Carusos 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
The Thunder, meanwhile, receive a big defensive presence in Caruso, a veteran point guard who’s received NBA All-Defensive Team honors twice and who was an NBA Champion with the 2020 Lakers. Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season.
Chicago receives Giddey, who was named NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2022, with the hope that the young Australian guard will be able to join the team as a playmaker. Giddey was a strong presence for the Thunder off the bench this season, averaging 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in a little over 25 minutes.
The Chicago Bulls had a relatively mediocre season in 2023-24, going 39-43 and qualifying for the play-in tournament before losing to the Miami Heat. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, dominated the Western Conference, going 57-25 and advancing to the conference semifinals, where the Thunder ultimately lost to the Dallas Mavericks.