NBA: Bulls swap Alex Caruso for Thunder's Josh Giddey

The Chicago Bulls dealt NBA All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder straight up for guard Josh Giddey, ESPN reported Thursday.

Caruso, 30, is entering the final year of his four-year, $36.98 million contract, and the Bulls get younger by adding the 21-year-old Giddey. The Thunder acquired a guard who was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team in 2023 and the second team in 2024.

Giddey, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, started a career-high 80 games for the Thunder in 2023-24 and averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. In 210 games (all starts) in his three NBA seasons, the Australian has career averages of 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

Caruso spent three seasons in Chicago and made 57 starts among his 71 appearances in 2023-24, averaging a career-high 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds along with 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

In 363 games (130 starts) for the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-21) and Bulls, Caruso has put up 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per contest.

--Field Level Media/ Reuters