The Chicago Bulls and Josh Giddey have had extensive contract negotiations all offseason, which could be reaching its end sooner rather than later.
Giddey has long wanted a deal in the range of roughly $30 million annually, to which the Bulls have not taken the bait on. However, as KC Johnson of Chicago Sports Network says, a resolution to this contract dispute could soon be found.
“The Bulls do have a long-term offer on the table, believed to be in the neighborhood of $20 million a year,” Johnson said. “It's pretty well-documented that Josh Giddey and his representatives are seeking in that $30 million range, so there's still a pretty significant gulf financially. The difference in this restricted free agency situation from a prior one, that's unlike the Lauri Markkanen situation, the Bulls have given no indications league-wide of being amenable to a sign-and-trade.”
Giddey has turned into a potential cornerstone player with the Bulls
Giddey has become a prominent player for the Bulls after being sent there from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Alex Caruso last summer. Last season with the Bulls, Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 70 games. At just 22-years-old, it’s safe to assume that Giddey will only get better from here, exactly to what extent remains to be seen.
The Bulls are hopeful they can bring Giddey back at a reasonable cost. With the team facing a potential rebuild, Giddey could serve as a franchise cornerstone to help build around for the future.