“$100 million in restricted free agency looks brilliant”: Bulls hit the jackpot with Josh Giddey

As things stand, it would be tough to find many Chicago Bulls fans who object to the team locking in Josh Giddey on a four-year, $100 million extension this summer. What started out looking like an overpay now feels more like a smart investment.

A month into the season, Giddey’s $25 million average salary is being hailed as one of the shrewdest offseason moves in the NBA. John Hollinger of The Athletic recently described the Bulls’ choice to secure him at that rate as “brilliant.”

“Whatever you think of the trade that brought him to the Windy City in the first place, the Chicago Bulls’ decision to re-sign Josh Giddey for four years and $100 million in restricted free agency looks brilliant. He’s playing like a max-contract superstar while occupying just $25 million on Chicago’s books for the three seasons after this one; partly as a result, Chicago is set up to have max cap room this summer to bring in more talent around him and Coby White,” Hollinger wrote.

Josh Giddey on his way to a big season for the Bulls

Giddey had displayed potential to become an elite player, but without a long-term deal, the $100 million commitment could have backfired. After 14 games, he leads the Bulls in points, assists, and minutes, guiding the team to an 8-6 record.

The Bulls traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Giddey. Caruso had delivered steady contributions last season; while his scoring was modest, he was a versatile player who impacted every aspect of the game especially in defense, and consistently filled the stat sheet.

Chicago’s record didn’t change much, hovering around .500 as it has for much of previous seasons. Still, Giddey showed enough potential that the Bulls had a decision to make as a restricted free agent. He was among the last players to sign a deal this offseason, and while many initially questioned the price, it now looks like a bargain for the franchise.

At $25 million per year, Giddey is earning the same as players such as Anfernee Simons, Christian Braun, Naz Reid, and Draymond Green. While one could debate the value of those players relative to Giddey, none come close to producing 20.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game while serving as their team’s primary option.

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