The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls got this past offseason going when they agreed on a trade to swap Josh Giddey and Alex Caruso. At the time, the overwhelming consensus favored the Thunder as the winners of the trade. The further time moves away from that initial reaction, the more that is up for debate.
Caruso was seen as a perfect addition to the Thunder core. The two-way brand of basketball that the elite defender played was thought to be a union that both him and Oklahoma City would benefit from tremendously.
Giddey was coming off a disappointing campaign with the Thunder. The all-around offensive threat posted the lowest averages of his time in Oklahoma City in multiple categories like points per game, assists per game, rebounds, and a handful of others.
With Giddey's trade stock dropping and Caruso's holding steady as a great role player, many were of the opinion that it was the Thunder who got away with robbery in this deal. That narrative has shifted.
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Giddey's game-winning buzzer beater against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night had many revisiting the conversation of who won the trade. While some can agree that it was a mutually beneficial trade, others are starting to lean towards the Bulls.
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Zach LaVine played his last game with the Bulls on Jan. 27 against the Denver Nuggets. Since his last time suiting up for Chicago, Giddey has thrived in an expanded role.
The Australian guard has posted averages of 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, with shooting splits of 51-47-79 in the 21 games since that date.
Caruso has spent time in and out of the lineup for the Thunder this season. To this point, the two-time All-Defensive Team member has posted 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game with Oklahoma City.
Giddey would likely have never stepped into a role that would have maximized him on the Thunder due to the abundance of talent ahead of him in the offensive pecking order. However, the idea of the Thunder possibly selling too low on their former young guard is one worth considering.
Related: Bill Simmons Suggests Blockbuster OKC Thunder Trade for 2025 NBA Draft
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This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM.