Sam Smith: Josh Giddey brings playmaking, versatility to Bulls

Could the Bulls be feeling lightheaded about perhaps a new direction for the team, maybe a little faint and weak at the knees? You know, Giddey.

Maybe so as the Bulls acquired versatile 6-foot-8 point guard/forward Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Bulls defensive ace Alex Caruso, they announced Friday. It’s a short-term setback for the Bulls to surrender the tenacious Caruso, coming off a second consecutive all-defensive team season.

But the versatile Giddey, the No. 6 selection in the 2021 NBA draft, is a deft and natural facilitator and transition scorer who can assume a long desired full court playmaking role for the Bulls to set up their scoring and shooting.

Giddey, who’ll be just 22 in October, coming from Australia is the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and first since Oscar Robertson to record three consecutive triple-doubles. Giddey joined Luka Dončić, Ben Simmons and Grant Hill as the only players with 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 500 assists in their first 100 NBA games.

He was second team all-rookie in 2022 along with Ayo Dosunmu and could give the Bulls positional size in the backcourt along with Dosunmu and Coby White. The fate of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the latter a free agent, still remain to be determined. 

Giddey has recorded 11 triple-doubles in his career and last season in 80 starts for the first place 57-win Thunder averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Over his three-year career, he’s averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Giddey’s career average from three-point range is 31%, but he improved to 34% last season and his free throw shooting of 81% suggests he has the potential to improve his shooting, especially with how young he is.

Giddey’s role with the Thunder diminished some late last season with the team’s emphasis on the play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams as both took increased responsibilities running the offense.

As a result, Giddey went from a primary ball handler to playing off the ball last season. It was not his strength because of his lack of catch-and-shoot proficiency. Giddey’s playing time dropped from 31 minutes per game his first two seasons to 25 last season. His field goal attempts dropped by about a third after he’d averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists his sophomore season. During these last playoffs when the Thunder were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals, Giddey came off the bench the last two games and in the series averaged just 12.6 minutes per game and 6.2 points. That apparently made Giddey available in trade. 

Giddey on his rookie contract can be a restricted free agent after next season when the Bulls can match any offer.

For the Bulls, he will likely return to his more natural role as an on-ball facilitator running the offense with length and speed. His presence should enable the Bulls to play more of the faster, transition style that coach Billy Donovan prefers. Though the Bulls, obviously, sacrifice on the defensive side with the departure of the tenacious Caruso. Giddey isn’t regarded as a high level defender or shooter, but he is considered one of the best young playmaking guards the way he sees the floor and can rifle passes into unusually tight spaces. He’s known as a smart player, like Caruso despite being so young, and adept at reading the floor on the move.

One of the more unusual aspects about Giddey’s play is he’s known in the NBA as the best inbounds passer in the league. It is an esoteric category, but perhaps an advantage for Bulls coach Billy Donovan since Donovan gets credit for his ingenuity with plays drawn up after time outs.

Though his addition also raises the question about whether the Bulls believe Lonzo Ball can return considering that Giddey is a facilitator in the mold of Ball.

Giddey is from Australia, where his parents were both professional basketball players. He eschewed the American collegiate or G League route to sign as a professional in Australia when he was 17. He soon became the youngest Australian pro to record a triple-double.

He’s also been a fan of the Bulls from their championship years because of Australian favorite Luc Longley.

“When Luc Longley first went to the NBA, it was like the greatest thing ever,” Giddey once told Australia media. “We had an Australian in the NBA. When you look at it now, it’s so common and I think that’s such a good thing for Australian basketball that it’s breeding the next generation of athletes in this country. It’s a special time for basketball in Australia.”

And the Bulls hope Giddey can help return a special time for basketball to Chicago.

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