Thunder GM states Josh Giddey didn’t desire to come off bench and askedfor trade

The Bulls and Thunder completed a offer sendingout Josh Giddey to Chicago and Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City on Friday, with the Thunder giving the 21-year-old Giddey’s trade demand after he withstood the group’s prepares to usage him off the bench.

Giddey, a 6-foot-8 point guard from Australia, gets a fresh start after a tough season in which his numbers dropped and he lost his beginning task in the playoffs.

In a declaration, Thunder basic supervisor Sam Presti stated he informed Giddey after the season that the group visualized utilizing him as a reserve in 2024-25 “to takefulladvantageof his lotsof skills and deploy our group more effectively over 48 minutes.”

“As we laid out to Josh how he might lean into his strengths and eventually enhance our existing lineup and skill, it was difficult for him to picture, and discussions turned to him asking about capacity chances inotherplaces,” Presti stated. “As constantly was the case, Josh showed the utmost professionalism throughout the conversations.”

The Thunder went 57-25 to make the leading seed in the Western Conference and lost to Dallas in the conference semifinals.

Giddey was often booed on the roadway this past season after an confidential social media user implicated him of having an incorrect relationship with an underage lady, leading to examinations by cops in Newport Beach, California, and the NBA.

Newport Beach authorities finished their examination in January and stated investigators were “unable to prove any criminal activity.” The NBA likewise lateron dropped its examination.

Giddey was the No. 6 general choice in 2021 and he made the All-Rookie 2nd group. He is a member of Australia’s nationwide group that will play at the Paris Olympics this summerseason. He is an extraordinary passer and his size makes him a strong rebounder.

Giddey balanced 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 helps in his 2nd season, however those numbers dropped to 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 helps in 2023-24.

Giddey’s play enhanced in the 2nd half of the season after the Thunder traded for Gordon Hayward. In April regular-season videogames, Giddey balanced 16.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 helps while shooting 57.2% from the field.

Giddey’s playing time was decreased in the playoffs. He opened the second-round series versus Dallas as a starter before being moved to a reserve function for the veryfirst time in his NBA profession.

The 30-year-old Caruso, who plays point guard and shooting guard, was undrafted in 2016 and played for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, in 2016-17. He developed himself as a protective existence in 4 years with the Los Angeles Lakers and then 3 years with the Bulls.

He has profession averages of 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 helps. He balanced a career-high 10.1 points this past season. He was on the all-defense veryfirst group in 2023 and the 2nd group in 2024.

“Alex Caruso is a gamer we have constantly extremely valued and followed,” Presti stated. “He is the essential Thunder gamer; he is an remarkable rival and colleague with a multi-dimensional ability set.”

The Thunder likewise have Cason Wallace, a second-team All-Rookie choice this past season, at point guard.

Reporting by the Associated Press.