Three Things NBA Preview: Chicago Bulls
As I detailed a couple weeks ago, I’m once again re-appropriating the Three Things I Noticed on League Pass format to preview the upcoming season. Instead of three things I noticed, it’ll be something more along the lines of three things I’m looking forward to, interested in, or want to see. Some of them might be narrative-based, some might be stats, and some might include video. But they'll all be focused on the 2025-26 campaign.
The schedule for those posts will be as follows:
- Sept. 1-5: Atlantic Division (BOS, BKN, NYK, PHI, TOR)
- Sept. 8-12: Central Division (CHI, CLE, DET, IND, MIL)
- Sept. 15-19: Southeast Division (ATL, CHA, MIA, ORL, WAS)
- Sept. 22-26: Pacific Division (GSW, LAC, LAL, PHX, SAC)
- Sept. 29-Oct. 3: Northwest Division (DEN, MIN, OKC, POR, UTA)
- Oct. 6-10: Southwest Division (DAL, HOU, MEM, NOP, SAS)
So without further ado, let's get to the Chicago Bulls, who were unceremoniously eliminated in the play-in round for seemingly like the 300th time even though the play-in has only been around for a few years.
Josh Giddey, what's the deal
Giddey still hasn't re-signed with the Bulls just yet, and there appears to be no end in sight for this restricted free agency stalemate. And you know what, good for the Bulls for actually nickel and diming here.
Now, I want to be clear, I would way rather Giddey have the money than Jerry Reinsdorf. Especially Jerry Reinsdorf, who is one of the stingier owners in the league and who essentially refuses to let the Bulls do what they actually need to do to compete for anything other than the play-in tournament.
But in this cap environment, you can't just pay up top dollar when you have all the leverage in the world. (Ask the Raptors.) There's nobody out there clamoring to give Giddey a deal, so they should just stick to their price and make him take it or else play on the qualifying offer.
Giddey showed a lot of improvement over the second half of last season (12.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game before the All-Star break and 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists after it), but A. it was only 19 games after the break; and B. we've seen Giddey go on stretches of seemingly-elite play before, only to come back to Earth. I wouldn't want to be buying in at the top of the market, either.
So how does this end? My guess is with a compromise deal of like three years for $75 million, or something along those lines. Maybe with a player option on that third season. That way Giddey gets his money and control of when he can re-enter free agency but as an unrestricted free agent rather than a restricted one, but the Bulls don't commit long term and they retain the right to trade him if they want to.
