Josh Giddey Thanks Thunder on Instagram After Trade to Bulls in Alex Caruso Swap

New Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey thanked the Oklahoma City Thunder organization in an Instagram post on Friday following his trade.

Giddey's teammates also wished him well on Instagram following the post, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylin Williams and Chet Holmgren:

Giddey was traded to the Bulls on Thursday in exchange for guard Alex Caruso, who was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2024.

The 21-year-old was selected by the Thunder with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, starting in 210 games for Oklahoma City over the past three seasons.

Giddey finished his Thunder career with averages of 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 31.0 percent from three. He started his career off strong, as he was part of the All-Rookie Second Team and became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.

In a statement released after the trade, Thunder general manager Sam Presti also thanked Giddey for his time with the organization.

"We want to thank Josh for his many contributions to our team and know he will capitalize on the opportunities before him in Chicago," Presti said. "When we drafted Josh in 2021 he was an essential aspect of our vision for the next iteration of the Thunder. Since then, our team has evolved rapidly and dynamically in ways we could never have anticipated."

While his ability to rebound and pass as a taller guard has been his calling card, his lack of perimeter shooting started to affect a Thunder team that preferred to space the floor around superstar Gilgeous-Alexander.

Although Giddey remained a starter, his playing time decreased under head coach Mark Daigneault in 2024. After averaging 25.1 minutes per game in the regular season, he was on the court for just 18.1 minutes each night in the playoffs.

Presti revealed in his statement that the team approached Giddey about a move to the bench during the 2024-25 season, although "it was hard to for him to envision" the change and he eventually inquired about opportunities elsewhere.

Now, Giddey is expected to join Coby White in Chicago's backcourt following a breakout season from the Bulls guard.