This past season, Josh Giddey had major struggles playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The struggles would continue in the playoffs seeing him come off the bench in the Dallas Mavericks series. After the Thunder were eliminated in six games by the Mavericks. The writing was on the wall for Giddey’s time in Oklahoma. This offseason, the Chicago Bulls made one of the more shocking trades sending Alex Caruso to the Thunder for Giddey.
A trade that many people thought was bad for the Bulls, saying they could have gotten more for Caruso. However, some thought it would be a win-win trade for both sides. Now, Giddey is playing for Team Australia during the Paris Olympics. Through the first two games so far Giddey is showing why the Bulls were comfortable making the trade. Today, we are going to look at his performances so far and how that will translate to next year with the Bulls.
2024 Paris Olympics: Josh Giddey is Proving Why The Bulls Traded for Him
Josh Giddey Triple-Double Threat
Giddey through the first two games is showing why every time he steps on the court, he is a threat to get a triple-double. In the first game, he had 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Then he followed that up with a 19-point outing and added seven rebounds and six assists against a good Canada team. Even though this is a small sample size, he is showing Bulls fans a glimpse of what to expect from him next year. Playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey wasn’t able to showcase his full potential with the Thunder.
During Giddey’s time with the Thunder, every year he was playing more and more off-ball. To the point where he was just mostly being a guy, you throw in the corner and shoot threes. That is not the type of player Josh Giddey is. He needs to be the primary ball handler so you can maximize his potential, especially as a playmaker. That is what he is most likely going to be for the Bulls, the primary ball handler. So far in the Olympics, he is showing people what he can do when he is that person. A guy who can average around 16-20 points with eight to ten rebounds and assists per night.
Giddey’s Improved Shooting
To go along with his threat of averaging a near triple-double, there is also his improved shooting. Josh Giddey’s shooting was a big reason why he became almost unplayable in the playoffs. However, every year he has improved his three-point shooting. In his rookie season, he shot 26.3% from three. The next season he bumped that number up to 32.5%. Then finally, this year he shot 33.7%. Which still isn’t good but it is a lot better from where he started.
In the Olympics, which is a small sample size, he has been shooting the ball well. In those two games, he is shooting 5/11 from three which is 45.4%. Now for the whole Olympics, he most likely won’t be shooting at that high of a percentage. But, he has shown a willingness to get better in that department and it has shown up during the games. Now, he won’t be a great three-point shooter, but if he can get it above 35% and become a respectable shooter it will complement the other things he does very well.
Why The Bulls Can Be Patient With Giddey
Josh Giddey is just 21 years old and still, going to turn 22 before the season starts. We have not seen the best version of what Giddey can become, and right now he is already a good basketball player. The Thunder who have had one of the quickest rebuilds ever, are back in win-now mode and can’t wait on the development of Giddey anymore. In addition to that, he wasn’t a player that was fitting within their core as they had hoped. Now, that he is playing for the Chicago Bulls a rebuilding team. They can be patient with his shooting struggles and his development. Plus, they can spend more time focusing on that and allow him to make mistakes and grow from that. A place the Thunder were no longer at anymore.
The Bulls traded for him because they saw the potential in him. Seeing the player he could be if he was the primary ball-handler for a team. So far, through the first two games, and if you’re a Bulls fan you have got to be happy with what Giddey is showing right now. In two to three years from now looking back on this trade, it will most likely end up being a win-win trade for both teams and not far lopsided as people once thought it was.
