(Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
Now that the NBA Finals are over and a champion has been crowned, teams are free to discuss trades with each other.
The Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder are two clubs that are headed in different directions, and they consummated a deal that could have significant implications for the Western Conference next season.
This trade will send guard Alex Caruso, a two-time All-Defensive team selection, to the Thunder for Josh Giddey, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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 Thunder were already an elite team, as they finished with the top seed in the West this season and in the top four in both offensive and defensive ratings.
But they lost in the second round of the playoffs this spring, and Caruso represents a significant upgrade.
In addition to being an excellent defender, the guard has also become a strong 3-point shooter, and he has played on a team that won the NBA championship, which will allow him to supply a young Thunder team with some invaluable experience.
Meanwhile, Giddey, a 6-foot-8 forward, will give the Bulls a young prospect to evaluate and possibly build around moving forward.
Chicago lost in the play-in tournament this season, and they’re seemingly stuck in the middle, as stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have seen their names come up in trade rumors.
The Bulls also have to figure out what to do with point guard Lonzo Ball, who suffered a meniscus injury two seasons ago and hasn’t played since.
Ball has one year left on his current contract, which is a player option year.
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