Josh Giddey is a Thunder no more. He could've stayed there longer if only he was willing to come off the bench.
However, that's not the personal plan the Australian has for himself.
Giddey fell out of favor among fans and the Oklahoma City Thunder coaching staff last season because of his declining postseason play.
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He was eventually traded last week to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso.
He likes his situation now because he will remain a starter, which he believes he still deserves since he is just 21.
Although his relationship with OKC ended, he is thankful to general manager Sam Presti for understanding where he was coming from.
"I'm 21 years old, it wasn't something that I was overly eager to do," Giddey said during a videoconference via The Associated Press.
"He completely understood. And just throughout the whole process, we were open and honest with each other. And I said to him, 'Look, coming off the bench at this point in my career, it's not something I'm trying to do and take a reserve role. He got it. And we worked together through the whole process, and he got me to a great spot."
Giddey recorded his lowest averages last season since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2021.
He finished the regular season with 12.3ppg and 4.8apg. He had 16.6ppg and 6.2 from the season before.
He was even worse in the 2023-2024 playoffs, averaging just 8.7 points and 2.1 assists in 18 minutes of play.
Bulls can unlock his potential
Giddey's third year with the Thunder was not ideal for his standard.
He is now looking forward to his stint with the Bulls, which he thinks will unlock his potential.
Why was he not able to do that with the Thunder? According to him, the team was stacked.
However, it should not be taken up against him to not excel in a team with so many good players.
"It was going to be hard to tap into my full potential, in my opinion, on a team like [Oklahoma City] with so many talented guys who needed the ball in their hands, who were great with the ball in their hands," Giddey said.
"A change of scenery was going to maybe unlock more of that for me."
Bulls see Giddey as a future All-Star
It was hard for any team to let go of someone like Alex Caruso, let alone give him up for a straight swap.
The Bulls management was criticized for such a deal, but they are firm with their stance on Giddey.
They believe they are investing in the future by acquiring the 21-year-old playmaker.
The Bulls think Giddey will be a great fit to play alongside Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan. They previously had Lonzo Ball leading them until the player got injured and has yet to return.
Reports indicate that Chicago is discussing with both scorers to remain with the team next season.
Related article: Bulls' Alex Caruso Trade Baffling? Here's What Made Chicago Greenlight Dubious Deal for Josh Giddey
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