How Do You Build a Contender Around Josh Giddey? [Coli GM Discussion]

[GoldenGlove]

No better time than now to make this thread. Josh Giddey and the Bulls have captured the NBA's attention in the month of March despite being 7 games under .500. The Bulls will be starting this chapter this off-season with Giddey's pending restricted free agency.

On the season Giddey is averaging:
14.3PPG
7.8REB
7.0AST

47%/38% splits

Since the trade deadline (Feb 6th) he's averaging:
20.9PPG
9.4REB
8.2AST

51.6%/50% splits

It seemingly took until after LaVine was moved for Coby and Giddey to mesh, most of the season they were not playing well alongside each other. Giddey also was not finishing games at one point when the year began. With this 2 to 3 month sample size, he's done quite a bit to quiet the notion that he cannot play without the basketball and alongside a dynamic shot creator.

The Bulls guard heavy and has good depth at that position, but looking at their current roster, what moves would you do to maximize a team around Giddey and what he does and doesn't do?

Chicago Bulls Multi-Year Table

A summary of financial breakdowns for the Chicago Bulls, including multi-year cap totals, player cap hits & free agents.

www.spotrac.com

 

[GoldenGlove]

NGL...Constructing a roster around Giddey after watching him in a Bulls uniform all year is much clearer for me now than it was when the initial trade happened.

I'm treating this as a formality and not necessarily something I'm ecstatic about. I am curious to see what NBA fans feel about his game and what Chicago COULD be if they put together a roster that makes sense.

After looking to his shooting numbers and % and just watching games, it's clear you need another shot creator alongside him. Giddey has only made 9 unassisted 3 pointers all SEASON. He'll need to continue to improve his ability to catch and shoot. This is crucial for him being able to play with any kind of lineup on the floor.

Coby White is a great pairing because he's comfortable playing off-ball and he's lethal at catch shooting. Chicago is going to be faced with a tough decision with Coby because while they got him on a bargain contract, they won't be able to keep him at that number, and I've read that due to how the CBA is set up, they won't be able to offer him more money than other teams when he hits free agency next year. (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

The only players that are under contract beyond the 25/26 Season are:
- Patrick Williams (18M)
- Jalen Smith (9M)
- Matas Buzelis (5.7M) [TEAM OPTION]
- Julian Phillips (2.4M) [TEAM OPTION]
- Lonzo Ball (10M) [TEAM OPTION]

Total = 45.1M

Dalen Terry will be a RFA in 25/26

Add Giddey's projected 25 to 30M a year and that goes to 70 to 75M on the roster, not including 1st round picks they select.

With Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White becoming UFAs in 25/26 should Chicago what tough decisions should they make?

 

[duckbutta]

You don't.

Giddy is maybe a guy you get to build around a franchise player. He is nowhere near a franchise player. I wouldn't even read to much into this season. It's a contract year for him. You know when athletes across all sports tend to put up their best seasons? Exactly.

 

[Doctor Doom]

Please tell me you aren't reading this much into this streak

 

[GoldenGlove]

You don't.

Giddy is maybe a guy you get to build around a franchise player. He is nowhere near a franchise player. I wouldn't even read to much into this season. It's a contract year for him. You know when athletes across all sports tend to put up their best seasons? Exactly.

I'll post the same thing I posted in the Bulls thread here, because I don't necessary disagree with you...

I'm conflicted.

A lottery pick and a chance to move up is always enticing even tho not likely. I'd say there would be more clarity gained by seeing how Giddey and Coby look in a Playoff series vs who the BPA would be if they stay where they are slotted to pick. At least you'd be able gauge how much you believe this is the back court to invest the future into.

Giddey is going to get paid but you might have some leverage if he looks like he did last year in OKC. If they answer that question in a positive way, then picking 15th might not be the end of the world because a good big can be on the board. I feel like the lottery will be full of guards this year and Chicago already has a logjam at the position.

 

[GoldenGlove]

Please tell me you aren't reading this much into this streak

I'm really not, as good as Giddey's numbers are, Coby White's looking like a top 10 scorer in the league is more valuable IMO.

I'm just curious to see what others think looking in. There are a lot of Bulls fans who are completely sold on investing in Giddey and Coby as the back court of the future after their recent play.

 

[Loose]

Idk kind of hard imo to build a system around him. He has to have a very high on ball usage to make his game effective, you really can't have any other creators like yall did with him and lavine

I guess a bunch of 3 and d guys similar to how you would build around lebron. Not many people who need to have the ball to score. If he keeps up this level of play from the past month he's absolutely an Allstar, as far as winning basketball? idk how you build around him, he has to find ways to be effective without the ball which is my concern.

 

[Majestyx]

if you can trade him, you trade him. if you cant

 

[VegetasHairline]

Let someone else pay him $30 million a year.

 

[OneManGang]

I’m out the loop a bit this season but build a team around who?!

Josh “Hide Ya Daughter” Giddey?

 

[Baka's Weird Case]

you dont build a team around him, you build a case around him

 

[GoldenGlove]

Idk kind of hard imo to build a system around him. He has to have a very high on ball usage to make his game effective, you really can't have any other creators like yall did with him and lavine

I guess a bunch of 3 and d guys similar to how you would build around lebron. Not many people who need to have the ball to score. If he keeps up this level of play from the past month he's absolutely an Allstar, as far as winning basketball? idk how you build around him, he has to find ways to be effective without the ball which is my concern.

This is being overblown. Especially this season. His USAGE% is 21. Coby White and Vuc have a higher %... LaVine was at 26%... for context Shai is at 33% this season.

It's true that Giddey needs more of a balance in touches to unlock him. You can pair him with other creators, because we're seeing him play with one now in Coby White.

We've also seen that he doesn't look as good with 2 other perimeter players with high usage rates. So knowing that, Chicago should construct a roster around him that keeps him at the least the primary or 2nd ball handler.

Out of every player in the NBA that's played at least 64 games this season, Giddey isn't even listed in the top 141 in usage rate %... I think the Bulls system fits his style of play, they just need to add a rim running big and more 3 and D talent at the forward positions

 

[Da_Eggman]

Good luck with all that

 

[GoldenGlove]

if you can trade him, you trade him. if you cant

This ship has sailed for Chicago...

 

[GoldenGlove]

Let someone else pay him $30 million a year.

I'd let the market determine his value. If the make the Playoffs, I'd be looking at that as a huge data point for how to move forward with him and the parts around him