Bulls can blame one team for failed Josh Giddey extension talks

On June 21, about a week before the Chicago Bulls selected forward Matas Buzelis with the 11th overall pick and two weeks before they traded their leading scorer DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings, Chicago exchanged All-Defense Second-Team selection Alex Caruso with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 22-year-old point forward Josh Giddey.

Giddey was coming off a disappointing end to his 2023-24 campaign. Despite Oklahoma City winning 57 games and earning the first seed in the Western Conference, Giddey was on the outside, looking in. After starting every game in his young career, the former sixth-overall pick was benched in the Western Conference Semifinals—essentially spelling an end to his Thunder career.

The Australian guard averaged a mere 6.2 points in 12.7 minutes per game against the Dallas Mavericks as a reserve. A month later, Giddey was dealt, and Thunder General Manager Sam Presti revealed the young guard had requested a trade, noting he didn't want to come off the bench.

Following three seasons in Oklahoma City, Chicago acquired Giddey as his rookie contract was about to expire; thus, an extension loomed for the once-prized guard. The five players drafted ahead of Giddey all signed extensions prior to the October 21 deadline. Of the extensions signed, all came out to more than $30 million annually.

Giddey preferred a Suggs-like extension before the October 21 deadline

As for Giddey? He was once again the odd man out, compelled to revive his value ahead of restricted free agency in 2025. Although he was acquired with the intent to be retained beyond this season, Giddey and the front office could not agree on an extension—and it could be because of the player who was drafted immediately before Giddey.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times (subscription required), Giddey sought a deal in the same ballpark as Jalen Suggs' five-year, $150.5 million extension he signed with the Orlando Magic. Giddey's request wasn't entirely out of left field. Suggs held career averages of just 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game before inking the long-term deal. However, Suggs did increase his shooting percentages every season and earned an NBA All-Defensive Second Team nod at the end of last season.

Giddey, on the other hand, averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over the first three seasons of his career. It goes without saying that Giddey's counting stats are far more impressive than that of Suggs'. Nonetheless, Giddey's pronounced flaws and stalled development likely led to Chicago's front office second-guessing the large extension.

Perhaps if Orlando had agreed to a less expensive deal with Suggs, Giddey would have already been signed. To make matters worse, it appears Orlando may have retained Suggs at a discounted rate. His efficiency is way down to begin the season, but his defense is as good as ever, and he's up to a career-high 15.0 points per game.

If Giddey believes he's still of Suggs' caliber, an extension may never come for the 6-foot-8 forward. He's exceptionally talented and unique, but his flaws continue to stand out. Giddey is shooting 35.6 percent on 3.7 triples per game while knocking down only 40.6 percent of his field goals. Furthermore, his defense has left much to be desired. Giddey ranks last on the Bulls in defensive rating at 120.9. Chicago is nearly 12 points per 100 possessions worse with Giddey on the court.

Giddey's uniqueness has made it challenging to find the right fit. He's a highly adept passer, yet he's a reluctant shooter, allowing defenses to sag and clog passing lanes. Moreover, he's a point guard, but at 6-foot-8, he's not fleet of foot enough to defend opposing point guards. All in all, Chicago is in a tricky predicament after acquiring Giddey, and Orlando signing Suggs to a massive extension only makes things more precarious.