The Oklahoma City Thunder have long been known to make shocking trades for the team’s sake, but everyone was still taken by surprise when Josh Giddey was sent to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso.
It was a deal that made sense for all the parties involved: the Thunder need a defensive specialist who can hinder the West’s best guards from doing whatever they want, and the Bulls need a playmaker with an innate passing sense to lessen the burden on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
While the move was something deemed necessary by all parties involved, it reminded everyone in the young Thunder roster that the league is cutthroat, and people you built relationships with could be headed to other teams at the drop of a hat.
Giddey was especially made aware of this, but he is still thankful for the time he spent in OKC.
Josh Giddey thanks the Oklahoma City Thunder and its fans after being traded to the Chicago Bulls
Credit: AP Photo
Like many modern NBA players, Giddey gave his statement on the trade on his social media page. In his message, he thanked everyone at the Thunder organization and its rabid fanbase for welcoming him from the moment he set foot in the league.
“Okc… thank you for EVERYTHING,” Giddey posted on Instagram on June 21. “To the city for embracing me from Day 1. To Mr Bennett, Sam & Mark for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of my being an NBA player, I am forever grateful. My brothers, who I got to share the floor with for 3 years. the best group of guys I could’ve imagined. Stuck with me through the very high highs & the very low lows. You guys know the real me. I am forever in debt to Oklahoma and no words will do justice to how much the city & the organization mean to me and my family.”
In Giddey’s final season with the Thunder, the Australian averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 47.5% shooting and 33.7% from deep. He’ll be a productive member of the Bulls core since his excellent passing sense will fill a much-needed playmaking deficit in the Bulls’ roster.
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