5 takeaways from Josh Giddey's Olympic performance

Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls had a solid perfomance at the Paris Olympics. Here are five takeaways

#1. Bulls fans should be more optimistic about the Caruso trade

The Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso swap in June was unpopular with the Chicago faithful and many insiders around the league did not few the transaction favorably for the Bulls.

Without a question, Giddey had a challenging 2023-24 season both on and off the court. If a person moves beyond the social media post and his short comings in the playoffs, then it becomes clear that the Bulls have acquired a 21-year-old, former 6th overall pick who has three years of NBA experience and has started every regular season game he has played in. He is a career 14 points per game, 7 rebounds and 6 assists with his three-point shooting improving each year. He fits with the new timeline with the Bulls younger core something that Caruso did not do anymore.

As for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Giddey was the young leader on a veteran Australian team that competed against the World's best. The record of 1-3 might not catch the eye at first, but when watching the games, Giddey's impact was noticeable. He finished his Olympic play with 17.5 points per game on 47% from 3 to go along with nearly 8 rebounds and 6 assists. His performance, at the very least, should temporarily tone down the rehetoric that Giddey and the Bulls faced after the initial trade.

#2. Giddey will be an unconventional point guard

Giddey has strong court vision with the ability to pass with either hand. His eyes are constantly up and he loves to push the pace to create opportunities for himself and for others. His 6-foot-8 inch frame helps him see over defensive pressure and e appeared to be a vocal leader for the Aussies in the Olympics, an under-appreciated skill for floor generals.

Giddey does not have elite quickness. He has strong handles, but when pressured he just uses his size to try to get the ball out of his hands. Something to keep an eye on as the Bulls begin the season, is if Giddey's skillset lends him to being able to get a team into half court offense especially if he facing strong perimeter defense.

Billy Donovan might be contemplating using a 1a and 1b point guard approach with Giddey and Coby White. This would take the pressure off one player to run the offense. Both players have point guard qualities, but would not qualify as a true point guard and this might be a solution to maximize their skillsets.