There is a number that can’t be ignored coming out of the Josh Giddey extension agreement this past week.
In bringing Giddey back at a very reasonable four years, $100 million, the Bulls will be paying the starting point guard an average of just $7 million per year more than the once promising prospect that was forward Patrick Williams.
Does that mean glass half-full or glass half-empty?
In the case of this Bulls front office likely both. Call it half-full but with milk still curdling throughout.
In Giddey’s case, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was working from a position of strength thanks to the league passing out the protein shakes this offseason. In the past, coveted restricted free agents like Giddey were an afterthought as far as an organization breaking the bank – and their backs – to re-sign them. Karnisovas would have caved much like he did in simply gifting Williams a five-year, $90-million extension last summer.
Thanks to the fear of the aprons thrown down in the last CBA, however, at least for now those days are over.
Even weak-minded suits can puff out their chests.
Giddey, along with Jonathan Kuminga, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes have found the negotiations difficult to say the least.
So much so for Thomas he opted to hold up a middle finger and simply sign the qualifying offer of $6 million with the Nets, betting on himself and unrestricted free agency next summer.
That’s what makes the Giddey signing such a win for the Bulls. As the Sun-Times reported, both sides wanted a deal done since last season ended but had to go through the song and dance of the negotiation.
Giddey gets security and is reminded just how much the Bulls appreciate his skillset while the Bulls get a point guard that posted 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game, while shooting a ridiculous 45.7% from three-point range post All-Star Break.
Win-win.
The main reason why is the bang for the buck the Bulls get with Giddey. As far as the point guard landscape of the Eastern Conference is concerned, Giddey’s talent is arguably in that seven to eight range.
It starts at the top with Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson, who each have junkyard dog moments on a big playoff stage, and then throw the likes of Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, Tyler Herro, Darius Garland and Jalen Suggs out there. Giddey has the look and feel of a player that resides at the end of the street in this tier.
Cunningham, Maxey and Garland have done more and were never benched in a key playoff series, while Herro again showed last April in a play-in game that he can take the likes of Coby White and Giddey to the woodshed whenever he wants.
There’s a debate with Suggs vs. Giddey, but it’s very likely that Suggs can put on a Bulls uniform and seamlessly succeed with his defensive mindset and athletic ability, while Giddey would struggle in the defensive-minded Magic culture.
What should allow the Bulls to sleep very well at night? LaMelo Ball ($40 million) and Trae Young ($48 million) each breaking the bank for the 2026-27 season with very little to show the last few years.
Giddey has his critics, but no one would call him an unserious basketball player. Ball and Young? They are highlights with very little winning substance.
That’s why Karnisovas can feel good about his latest deal.
Now, as far as that Patrick Williams contract …