Bulls Rumors: Josh Giddey Didn't Have 'Meaningful' Contract Talks Before Deadline

Monday's deadline passed without guard Josh Giddey receiving a contract extension from the Chicago Bulls, and it sounds like a new deal was never on the horizon for him.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on this week's episode of The Hoop Collective (2:58 mark) that "there was never really any meaningful negotiations there" regarding an extension for Giddey.

Windhorst called it "a surprise to me" that Chicago and Giddey never made progress toward a new deal because, "I thought the Bulls were gonna be under some amount of pressure to get him done because they traded Alex Caruso for him."

Caruso was valued highly around the NBA, with an executive telling Windhorst the now Oklahoma City Thunder guard was worth two first-round picks. Giving up a player of that caliber for what could be less than a year of having Giddey on their roster would be a questionable decision for the Bulls.

Giddey is expected to be in the starting lineup for the Bulls this season. He appeared in four preseason games and recorded over 10 points in three of them. The fourth-year guard started 80 games for the Thunder last season and averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists, all of which were career lows.

The Bulls could be on the verge of a rebuilding year. In addition to Giddey, star swingman Zach LaVine is also a likely trade candidate if Chicago gets off to a slow start this season.

The Bulls will open the 2024-25 campaign on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.