NBA insider has theory for icy state of Josh Giddey, Bulls contract talks

Although several talented veterans changed teams through free agency and trades this summer, one group of free agent NBA players has been surprisingly static.

Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey, Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Cam Thomas, and Philadelphia 76ers wing Quentin Grimes all remain unsigned as of this writing.

With most clubs (save the Nets) having already used their cap space to bring on unrestricted free agents this summer, the top restricted free agents have limited leverage to maximize their asking prices from their incumbent teams. The players' status as restricted free agents means that their own squads can match any offer tendered their way.

Granted, they could suss out size-and-trade possibilities with other clubs, but beyond Kuminga, it doesn't appear that most of these players want to do that yet.

Morten Stig Jensen of Forbes posits that Chicago is being tactical with Giddey's contract. After getting burned by inking restricted free agent forward Patrick Williams to an instantly-regrettable five-year, $90 million deal just last summer, the Bulls are taking more of a measured approach to Giddey.

Giddey has far more upside than Williams did but that juncture, but Jake Fischer of The Stein Line/Substack has reported that the Bulls and Giddey's representatives remain divided on his annual worth. Chicago is hoping to pay him in the vicinity of $20 million annually, while Giddey has been angling for a $30 million yearly payday.

The 22-year-old averaged 14.6 points on .465/.378/.781 shooting splits, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 70 games for the 39-43 Bulls.

But Stig Jensen cautions that Giddey's impressive long range shooting last year — that 37.8% clip arrived at 4.0 triple tries per — may have been a bit of a mirage. The 6-foot-8 pro is a career 33% long range shooter, and prior to 2024-25 he had connected on underwhelming rates of 26.3%, 32.5% and 33.7%.

Stig Jensen adds that a whopping 75% of Giddey's takes from distance were "wide-open," meaning that the closest defender on those tries was six or more feet away.

Giddey is a talented young player, but as Stig Jensen notes, he hasn't exhibited consistent high-upside excellence just yet. Chicago may finally remedy the Williams mistake with a Giddey contract commensurate with his actual ability.

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