Josh Giddey was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to trade Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Alex Caruso, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because trades can’t be announced until July 6. ESPN first reported the trade.
Thunder receive:
Bulls receive:
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/V3t12MA3Uo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024
The 21-year-old Giddey was investigated following accusations by an anonymous social media user that he had an improper relationship with an underage girl.
The NBA and the Newport Beach, California, Police Department investigated Giddey during the season. The Newport Beach police completed their investigation in January and detectives were “unable to corroborate any criminal activity.” The NBA also later dropped its investigation.
Giddey’s play suffered this season and he was constantly booed on the road. The point guard averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists with 47.5% shooting this season. Those averages were down from 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists the previous season.Giddey’s play improved the second half of the regular season, after the Thunder traded for Gordon Hayward. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 57.2% from the field in April regular-season games. His playing time was cut significantly in the playoffs, and he lost his starting job for the first time in his career.
Giddey was the No. 6 overall pick in 2021 and he made the All-Rookie second team. He is a member of Australia’s national team that will play at the Paris Olympics this summer. He is an exceptional passer and at 6-foot-8, his size makes him a solid rebounder.
Caruso spent the past three seasons in Chicago with averages of 7.8 points, 3.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team for 2022-23, the All-Defensive Second Team for 2023-24, and he won the NBA Hustle Award for 2023-24. The 6-foot-5, 30-year-old guard was undrafted out of college and signed a training camp deal with the Thunder in 2016. He was waived before the start of the season and signed in 2017 with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would play four seasons and win a championship in 2020.
The Thunder also have Cason Wallace, a second-team all-rookie selection this past season, in place at point guard.
What this deal means: Oklahoma City adds a lockdown defender on the perimeter who brings championship experience to a squad that finished with the top seed in the Western Conference last season. For Chicago, Giddey’s playmaking ability will help keep the team afloat as it awaits the return of injured guard Lonzo Ball.
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AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.