Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s Josh Giddey performs throughout an NBA basketball recreation, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photograph/Matt Slocum)
CHICAGO — Josh Giddey is wanting ahead to a contemporary begin in Chicago.
The 6-foot-8 guard from Australia confirmed Tuesday he didn’t need to come off the bench for Oklahoma Metropolis and insisted he appreciated Thunder common supervisor Sam Presti’s honesty main as much as the commerce to the Bulls final week for Alex Caruso.
“I’m 21 years outdated, it wasn’t one thing that I used to be overly wanting to do,” Giddey mentioned throughout a videoconference. “He utterly understood. And simply all through the entire course of, we had been open and trustworthy with one another. And I mentioned to him, ’Look, coming off the bench at this level in my profession, it’s not one thing I’m attempting to do and take a reserve function. He bought it. And we labored collectively by the entire course of, and he bought me to an awesome spot.”
READ: NBA: Josh Giddey didn’t need to come off the bench, prompting commerce
Giddey is coming off a difficult season by which his numbers dropped and he misplaced his beginning job within the playoffs. He goes from a crew that went 57-25 to earn the highest seed within the NBA Western Convention and reached the convention semifinals with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren main the best way to at least one that missed the playoffs for the second straight yr.
Giddey mentioned he hasn’t mentioned his particular function with the Bulls, although it’s arduous to ascertain him coming off the bench in Chicago if he didn’t need to do it in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Presti mentioned in an announcement final week that the Thunder noticed him in a reserve function subsequent season so as “to maximise his many abilities and deploy our crew extra effectively over 48 minutes.” He mentioned Giddey had a tricky time with that concept and requested to be traded.
“The one factor about him that I actually respect is his transparency,” Giddey mentioned. “And he’s very open and trustworthy with gamers and particularly with me all through this entire course of.”
Giddey was the No. 6 total decide in 2021 and he made the All-Rookie second crew. He’s a member of Australia’s nationwide crew that may play on the Paris Olympics this summer season. He’s an distinctive passer and his measurement makes him a stable rebounder.
READ: NBA: Thunder commerce Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso
Giddey averaged 16.6 factors, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his second season, however these numbers dropped to 12.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 2023-24.
Giddey was additionally usually booed on the street after an nameless social media person accused him of getting an improper relationship with an underage lady, resulting in investigations by police in Newport Seaside, California, and the NBA.
Newport Seaside police accomplished their investigation in January and mentioned detectives had been “unable to corroborate any prison exercise.” The NBA additionally later dropped its investigation.
“I utterly perceive the query and I do know you’ve bought to ask as a part of your job, however I’m not going to touch upon something relating to that scenario,” Giddey mentioned.
The commerce for Giddey was the primary transfer in what might be a busy offseason for Chicago, which owns the No. 11 decide within the draft on Wednesday. Government vp of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas vowed to make adjustments after the crew he constructed completed 39-43.
Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is a free agent. Zach LaVine could be dealt after enjoying in simply 25 video games earlier than having season-ending foot surgical procedure, although the five-year, $215.16 million extension he signed following the 2021-22 season might make him powerful to maneuver.
It’s not fairly clear how the guard rotation will play out with Giddey added to a mixture that features Coby White coming off a breakout season and Ayo Dosunmu in a key function. Lonzo Ball might additionally determine into it, although he’s been sidelined since January 2022 due to a left knee damage. He has mentioned he expects to be prepared for the season opener.
Giddey mentioned he didn’t focus on with the entrance workplace if the Bulls had been retooling or present process a significant overhaul.
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“When it comes to what course the franchise goes, I haven’t requested any questions,” he mentioned. “I’ve simply form of purchased into no matter occurs right here, occurs. And, I’ll most likely play my half in serving to our crew be nearly as good as we might be proper from the leap.”