Advertisement - scroll for more content
Josh Giddey Rumors
Tim Bontemps: I suspect again here I would be surprised if there isn't a deal that's struck at some point between Josh Giddey and the Bulls. I just, you know, the the question I think is is it going to be something in the 20 to 25 million range per or is it going to be something, you know, well north of that? Tim MacMahon: And that from what I hear, that's kind of the difference in the discussions right now. Tim Bontemps: And look, Josh Giddy's a talented player. I wouldn't want to sign him to either deal because to your point, it's you're sort of signing yourself up to be a 35 and 47 team if you have him as your main engineer offense, which is right about where the Bulls were last year and probably will be going forward if they have him doing that. But he is a talented player. If you do believe in him continuing to grow and improve, like somewhere in the 20-25 million range is probably a reasonable deal for everybody. Again like I would assume that gets done at some point and that he doesn't sign the qualifying offer. But Josh Giddey has put up a lot of numbers and you know he I think there's a a belief that he's got a chance to be a high level player and so I could see him saying well I was a sixth pick in the draft. I've made a decent amount of money. I get another $11 million. There's a lot of cast space next summer. I'll take my chances.
Bulls, Josh Giddey still in talks over potential new contract
Multiple sources told ESPN they expect Josh Giddey and the Bulls to eventually come to a contract agreement, and the two sides have had some positive discussions. Yet, Giddey has been seeking a contract for approximately $30 million annually. With little cap space available this summer, Giddey's options for alternatives outside of Chicago dried up quickly, giving the Bulls leverage to hold off for a more team-friendly deal.
Marc Spears: I’m sure Jonathan Kuminga's in town um in Vegas supposed to meet with Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy Jr. and you know, try to figure it out and the Warriors hold all the cards. Yeah. Sad to say for Kuminga, man, he just has no power in this. It's a bad market for restricted free agents. Has Cam Thomas signed yet? No. Has Josh Giddy signed yet? Nope. It's just not a good market.
Advertisement
Jake Fischer: Josh Giddey is in Las Vegas, but has noticeably been absent from both Bulls games at Summer League. Several veterans just sat courtside here. Certainly seems like an indication that negotiations between the point guard and Chicago are not trending in an amicable direction.
Because of the penalties in the first and second salary-cap thresholds now smacking teams in the face, players have been unable to involve teams in a bidding war. That’s where the Giddey situation stood Saturday. The Sun-Times reported last week that Giddey’s camp still was hoping for a contract akin to the $30 million per year guard Jalen Suggs got from the Magic, but the Bulls haven’t gone there. The dialogue between the sides has remained good, but there is still no resolution.
KC Johnson: We’ve all documented that the Brooklyn Nets were the only team with significant salary cap space to sign Josh Giddey to a massive offer sheet. That space dried up with their trade acquisition of Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets. So Josh Giddey has nowhere to go—unless there’s a sign-and-trade. As of today, I’ve not heard of any sign-and-trade machinations involving Josh Giddey. That’s not to say one couldn’t materialize down the road, but I’ll emphasize—as I’ve said ad nauseam—both the Bulls and Giddey want to get a deal done.
Josh Giddey not expected to sign for $30 million annually?
“The Bulls and Giddey want to get a deal done,” said Bulls insider K.C. Johnson. “I don't have particular numbers other than to say that Josh Giddey's $30 million a year price tag that has been well-documented in media and out there since last fall when the rookie contract extension was discussed, has not ever crossed my radar. “I have never heard the Bulls mention that number. So I would not expect Josh Giddey to sign a $30 million [annual] deal.”
Advertisement
No market for Cam Thomas?
Jake Fischer: “Cam Thomas—no—does not really have a market, to my understanding. Josh Giddy also—I think people know what his price tag, he would like it to be. We've heard he wants $30 million as well. I don't see a widespread market for that on the open market right now too.”
There is still no update on Josh Giddey’s potential extension with the Chicago Bulls. In fact, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said from his understanding the two sides aren’t coming to a deal “anytime soon” despite all reports suggesting Giddey is likely to stay in Chicago. The Aussie delivered a cryptic message on Wednesday, posting a photo of himself in Bulls colours including an hourglass, indicating the time passing.
Josh Giddey: So, post-All-Star break, I tried to be more aggressive. I stopped trying to—well, I don't want to say I stopped trying to fit in—but I tried to get back to being me and how I am as a player. Once I did that, I felt like I got my confidence back, that swagger you need when you play. Once you have a few good games, you start to build some momentum. It can be a snowball effect. That’s what I found in the second half of the year. I just tried to keep that momentum rolling through those last 30 or 40 games. And it worked out. We won, and our record was really good heading into the postseason. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. But personally, I felt like I finally got going. It took me forever. I felt like I was in a slump for so long. Once I finally clicked out of it after the break—maybe it was the trip to Cabo that gave me that reset—but yeah, I felt great coming back from All-Star."
Josh Giddey has asked the NBA if he can play in the Australian League during the offseason
Josh Giddey: "It—and the feeling—came right back to me once I got out there. Obviously, I wasn't playing too hard, but just that enjoyment of getting to play with friends in a rec or domestic game, that joy came right back from when I used to do it as a kid. I've always loved that kind of basketball. Anytime I can play, I try to. It’s just fun, even if it's not serious. Obviously, playing in the NBA now, coming home and jumping into a Monday night comp in Frankston isn’t exactly at the top of my priority list, but it brought back that childhood excitement—rocking up five minutes before tipoff, throwing on your shoes, and just hooping. I’ve tried to ask the NBA if I can come home and play in NBL or other leagues during the offseason. It keeps me in game shape. There's no better way to stay sharp than actually playing basketball."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement