Thunder Trade Guard Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso, AP Source
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Alex Caruso, a person who is familiar with the transaction informed The Associated Press on Thursday.
Associated Press | June 20, 2024 7:32 pm
Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, March 31, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo / Abbie Parr, file)
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Alex Caruso, a person who was aware of the trade said to The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person who spoke with the AP on the condition of anonymity as trades aren’t allowed to be announced until the 6th of July. ESPN first reported the trade.
A 21 year old Giddey was investigated after accusations from a social media user who claimed that Giddey had a shady relationship with a girl who was not his age.
The NBA as well as police from the Newport Beach, California, Police Department investigated Giddey during the course of the season. It was reported that the Newport Beach police completed their investigation in January, and the detectives are “unable to corroborate any criminal activity.” The NBA has also subsequently withdrawn its investigation.
Giddey’s game suffered this season, and the team was frequently booed off in the road. The guard’s average was 12.3 per game, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists, with 47.5 percent shooting. These averages were less than 16.6 scores, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists from the previous season.
Giddey’s performance improved in throughout the second half of the regular season, following the Thunder traded him for Gordon Hayward. In the regular season, he was averaging 16.3 points and 7.0 rebounding and 5.5 assists, while shooting 57.2 percent from the field during the regular-season games in April. The time he played was reduced considerably in the playoffs and he was let go from his job as the team’s starting point to the team for the very first time.
Giddey was the No. 6 overall selection in 2021. He was also selected to his way onto the All-Rookie Second Team. He is a part of the national team from Australia that will participate in the Paris Olympics in the summer. He is a great passer, and at 6’8 his height, he is a formidable rebounder.
The 30-year-old Caruso plays both shooting and point guard has made himself an effective defensive player in his four seasons playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and then three seasons playing for the Bulls. His career averages are 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds. 2.9 rebound and 2.9 assists. He averaged a career high 10.1 points during the season. He was part of the all-defense first team in 2023 as well as 2nd team for 2024.
The Thunder also have Cason Wallace, who was a second-team all-rookie pick this season, to fill in at the point guard position.
