Should the Bulls have taken the Kings offer for Caruso instead?

The Chicago Bulls recent trade of Alex Caruso has drawn plenty of criticism for the Bulls’ failure to garner any draft capital from asset-rich Oklahoma City. 

We know that the Bulls had offers at the trade deadline that might have netted them a couple of first-round picks, a return that is less intriguing in a draft no one is excited about. 

It is a shame the Bulls weren’t able to use the robust market for Caruso to squeeze some kind of draft capital out of the Thunder, but if it was picks the Bulls were after, they had other opportunities to get them. 

According to Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic (Subscription), the Sacramento Kings put in their bid for Caruso, which included the 13th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

The Bulls traded Caruso straight up for Josh Giddey instead. Was it the right move, or should they have taken the pick? 

Which deal was best for the Chicago Bulls? 

If the Bulls could do it again, they probably would have just taken the trade deadline offer, as they didn’t end up making the playoffs anyway. 

After that evaporated, the 13th pick from the Kings had to be appealing, but there’s also a strong argument for Giddey. 

Josh Giddey is only 21 years old and if he were in this draft, he’d have an argument as a top-3 pick. This is a guy who started 80 games for one of the best teams in the league, so he’s already proven he can play. 

Yes, he has limitations, but so does every player in this draft, and at least you know what Giddey’s are. He has to improve his outside shooting, but he’s already a very good playmaker and rebounder. There isn't that kind of certainty with any player that will be available with the 13th pick.

The downside to Giddey vs. the pick is that Giddey will be a restricted free agent after this season and potentially due a big raise. 

If he doesn’t pan out, or decides he wants to play for someone else, the Bulls could lose him for nothing or have to overpay to keep him. There is some financial risk involved compared to a draft pick who would be under team control on a rookie-scale contract. 

Giddey has a year to make it work in Chicago, and if it doesn’t for some reason, this trade will look even worse for the Bulls, as they could have at least had a cheap lottery pick under contract, even if this is a “weak” draft. 

There’s also the chance the player taken with the 13th pick ends up being a superstar, in which case, the Bulls will add more regrets to the pile. 

At this stage, it looks like the Bulls made a defensible call but there is a lot riding on Josh Giddey being good in Chicago next season.