Josh Giddey couldn’t “envision” his new position for Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Thunder GM Sam Presti stated in a press release launched by the workforce Friday that Giddey was not eager on a reserve position for the 2024-25 season and pushed for different locations.
“As we laid out to Josh how he may lean into his strengths and finally optimize our present roster and expertise, it was exhausting to for him to check, and conversations turned to him inquiring about potential alternatives elsewhere,” Presti wrote, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s X account.
“Josh has All-Star potential, however accessing that within the present assemble of the Thunder wouldn’t be optimum for the collective. Primarily based on these discussions we determined to maneuver ahead and prioritize what was greatest for the group,” the GM added.
It was formally introduced Friday that Oklahoma Metropolis traded Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in alternate for guard Alex Caruso.
Giddey averaged 12.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists with 47.5% capturing this season – down from 16.6 factors, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists the earlier season.
Within the second spherical in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks, head coach Mark Daigneault benched Giddey for the collection’ ultimate two video games.
The purpose guard’s minutes plummeted within the playoffs, and he misplaced his beginning spot for the primary time.
Giddey averaged 26.5 minutes per recreation within the first spherical in opposition to the Pelicans, in comparison with simply 12.6 minutes in opposition to the Mavericks.
The 21-year-old was chosen because the No. 6 general choose within the 2021 NBA Draft.
“Once we drafted Josh in 2021 he was a vital facet of our imaginative and prescient for the subsequent iteration of the Thunder,” Presti wrote.
“Since then, our workforce has developed quickly and dynamically in methods we may by no means have anticipated. Subsequently, as we started our inside discussions this low season, it was decided that bringing Josh off the bench subsequent season was our greatest choice to maximise his many abilities and deploy our workforce extra effectively over 48 minutes.”
Caruso, 30, spent the previous three seasons in Chicago and averaged 7.8 factors, 3.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals this season.
The guard was named to the All-Defensive First Crew for 2022-23, the All-Defensive Second Crew for 2023-24 and received the NBA Hustle Award for 2023-24.
Undrafted out of faculty, the Texas A&M grad signed a coaching camp take care of Oklahoma Metropolis in 2016. Nevertheless, he was waived earlier than the season kicked off and signed with the Lakers in 2017 – the place he performed 4 seasons and received the championship in 2020.
Giddey’s turbulent 2023-24 season included him being investigated in the course of the season for allegations of a relationship with an underage woman.
Although detectives have been “unable to corroborate any legal exercise” and he was not charged with against the law, the guard was consistently booed on the highway and his play considerably suffered.
As a member of the Australian nationwide workforce, Giddey might be competing in Paris this summer time for the 2024 Summer time Olympics.
