The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for 21-year-old guard Josh Giddey, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Wojnarowski, the Bulls have been seeking a new playmaker to replace the oft-injured Lonzo Ball and believe Giddey can fill that role.
Giddey averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 assists in 80 games with the Thunder last season. He will now join breakout guard Coby White, who averaged a career-best 19.1 points and 5.1 assists in his fifth season with the Bulls.
Wojnarowski also noted that Giddey’s 11 triple-doubles are the fourth most by a player 21 or younger all-time, behind Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson, and Ben Simmons.
The Bulls face several major decisions this offseason. Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan is set to become an unrestricted free agent and might test the open market, despite previously expressing his desire to return to Chicago.
Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has also been attempting to trade two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. Chicago has reportedly proposed as many as 15 trades involving the 29-year-old, who missed 57 games last season due to a foot injury.
Meanwhile, the Thunder add another defensive asset alongside Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC already boasted the second-best defensive rating in the league at 104.5, trailing only the Orlando Magic.
Caruso, 30, averaged a career-high 10.1 points while shooting 40.8% from deep last season with Chicago. He was also nominated to his second consecutive All-Defensive team.
Caruso has previous experience playing under Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault as a member of the Oklahoma City Blue during the 2016-17 season.
The undrafted guard has $3 million guaranteed of his $9.9 million salary for next season, while Giddey has a cap hit of $8.3 million and is rookie-extension eligible until late October, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The Thunder hope to sign Caruso to a four-year deal worth approximately $80 million when he becomes extension-eligible in six months, according to Wojnarowski.
