Sign-and-trade for Gidds hits the skids

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Australian point guard Josh Giddey isn't going anywhere and will be in the Chicago Bulls backcourt in 2025-26 despite the contract extension negotiation between the two continuing to stall.

"Chicago doesn’t want to lose Josh Giddey at all," Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer said on Insider Notebook.

"They’ve been telling other teams, they’ve been telling agents since the combine, that they are not interested in having any discussion whatsoever with Josh Giddey.

"They value Josh Giddey, they traded Alex Caruso straight up for Josh Giddey when they had offers from various teams over the years for multiple first-round picks for Alex Caruso.

"That’s how much they value Josh Giddey. They see him as a major focal point of their roster moving forward."

Restricted free agent Giddey, 22, wants $30M USD per season extension and the Bulls $20M and it seems neither side is budging. Giddey signed a four-year, $27M rookie contract with the now NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021.

He had been linked with the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade but Fischer said the Bulls had shutdown any potential of moving Giddey.

"As it stands Josh Giddey, just like all these other restricted free agents, still has the threat of taking the qualifying offer to get out in unrestricted free agency next summer," Fischer added.

Josh Giddey contract situation explained

• Josh Giddey is a restricted free agent. This means he can negotiate with any team in the NBA for the best contract he can secure for himself.
• The Chicago Bulls then have the option to match that deal and Giddey remains a Bulls player.
• But a vast majority of NBA teams don't have the salary cap space to accommodate Giddey's salary expectations, which means his ability to drive his price is greatly diminished.
• This allows Chicago to present a "team friendly" deal to Giddey ... code for less money given the lack of market demand.
• Giddey's primary negotiating tool is to play for his $11.1M (USD) qualifying offer and then become an unrestricted free agent in 2025-26, which means he can negotiate with any NBA team for the best deal. He can leave the Bulls for nothing and with nothing for the trade that sent Alex Caruso to OKC.
• But playing for the qualifying offer means Giddey is "betting on himself" — deliver an All-Star calibre season in 2025-26 and then hit the open market.

"Chicago has been unwilling to move north of a $20M average annual value figure for Josh Giddey," Fischer said.

"However, Josh Giddey and his representation have been very clear that they are looking for something much closer to $30 million in average annual value.

"That is the going rate for starting players in the NBA right now.

"That’s been the impasse for where these two sides have been all summer dating back to June 30th at 6PM, where that first four-year, $80M offer that we reported was brought to the table from Chicago to Giddey’s side back on June 30th, and it doesn’t sound like much has changed.

"He’s got a close relationship with Billy Donovan and support from that coaching staff, but for now this impasse remains what it is."

📊 Josh Giddey's Overall 2024-25 Season Totals

• Games Played: 69
• Minutes: 2,116
• Points: 1,022 (14.8 PPG)
• Rebounds: 566 (8.2 RPG)
• Assists: 503 (7.3 APG)
• Steals: 84 (1.2 SPG)
• Blocks: 45 (0.7 BPG)
• Field Goal %: .465
• 3P %: .378 (105 made, 278 attempts)
• FT %: .781

🟢 Triple-Doubles (5 total)

1. Nov 2 vs BRK – 20 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast
2. Dec 28 vs MIL – 23 pts, 15 reb, 10 ast
3. Feb 20 @ NYK – 27 pts, 16 reb, 10 ast
4. Mar 22 @ LAL – 15 pts, 10 reb, 17 ast
5. Apr 9 vs MIA – 28 pts, 16 reb, 11 ast

🔵 Double-Doubles (20 total, excluding triples)

• Frequent across the season, mixing points + assists and points + rebounds.
• Highlights include:
  • Oct 30 vs ORL – 20 pts, 11 reb
  • Nov 11 vs CLE – 18 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast (near triple-double)
  • Dec 16 @ TOR – 11 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast (near triple-double)
  • Mar 27 vs LAL – 25 pts, 14 reb, 11 ast (triple)
  • Apr 4 vs POR – 15 pts, 19 reb, 12 ast (huge all-around night)

🚀 Season Highs

• Points: 29 (Mar 10 vs IND)
• Rebounds: 19 (Apr 4 vs POR)
• Assists: 17 (Mar 22 @ LAL)
• Steals: 4 (Jan 14 vs NOP, Mar 22 @ LAL)
• Blocks: 3 (Feb 24 @ PHI, Apr 9 vs MIA)

📝 Summary

Giddey put together a well-rounded first season for the Chicago Bulls:

• Averaged nearly a 15-8-7 stat line, showcasing his versatility.
• Produced 5 triple-doubles and 20+ double-doubles, firmly establishing himself as a playmaking engine.
• Posted standout performances late in the year, including a 29-point game vs Indiana (Mar 10), a 19-rebound night vs Portland (Apr 4), and a 17-assist explosion vs the Lakers (Mar 22).
• Efficiency improved from three-point range (.378), a career-best mark.