As much flack as Josh Giddey may get due to his pitfalls and inefficiencies, he's taken major strides with the Chicago Bulls over the past two seasons.
While his efficiency from the field has dropped, he's become a much more proficient playmaker and perimeter shooter, and in many ways, he's been the offensive engine of this Bulls team over the past two seasons. There are, of course, still questions about his long-term viability as a lead point guard in the NBA. But he's come a long way from being a cast-off of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and his four-year, $100 million deal is proof of that.
But things are changing in Chicago. The Bulls brought in Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain through the draft, and they also added veteran talent in Norman Powell and Nic Claxton this offseason. The Bulls have a long-term vision under new lead executive Bryson Graham, and Giddey needs to prove he can fit into that.
If Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and, to some extent, Powell, are going to be the Bulls' main on-ball factors in 2026-27, Giddey needs to take a step back as a scorer, upping his efficiency while functioning primarily as a high-volume facilitator in the Bulls' offense. It will be the biggest trial of his career to this point, but if he's successful, it could secure his future in Chicago.
Josh Giddey needs to tailor his game to the Bulls' new offensive structure in 2026-27
Giddey, from a standpoint of pure production, has already justified his payday. Across 54 games in 2025-26, he averaged 17 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists while knocking down 36.4% of his shots from beyond the arc.
But the question around him has always been if he can subsist on a slmmer shot diet. Can he still maximize his offensive impact if his primary role is as a faciliator and not a scorer?
We'll find out in 2026-27.
The Bulls need to give Wilson as many touches as possible during his rookie campaign as he gains his feel for the NBA game and ups his strength and physicality. This could lead to some sub-par stretches of offense, but it's where Wilson's long-term upside as a star lies.
The same goes for Buzelis. He needs to cut down on his 3-point volume and work more downhill touches into his game. He'll need to carve those out alongside Wilson, but that also presents less scoring opportunities for Giddey.
Toss in Powell, who had a usage percentage of 27.2 last season with the Miami Heat, and suddenly touches are being spread relatively thin across the starting lineup.
Giddey has shot just 45.7% from the field across his two seasons in Chicago while averaging a whopping 12.2 field goals per game. He doesn't need any improvement as a facilitator, but that number needs to inch closer to 48 or 49%, buoyed by increased efficiency from the perimeter, if he's going to function properly within this iteration of the Chicago offense.
Even if the Bulls decide to move him, Giddey won't be easily tradeable. But if he's willing to take a step back and show these improvements in 2026-27, it might not even be an issue Chicago ultimately has to face.
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