The first of a series of tough decisions was made this afternoon by Chicago’s front office by trading away possibly their most vital asset, Alex Caruso. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Team guard was being dangled for multiple first-round selections during the 2024 trade deadline and continued to be the most coveted Bulls player into the summer. By swapping him one-for-one in exchange for 21-year-old Josh Giddey, Chicago has officially gotten a decade younger at the position and will look to expedite the rebuild process. After waiting since January 20th of 2022 since Ball’s last appearance on the floor for Chicago, they’ve decided to now move on from the 26-year-old point guard.
After several knee surgeries, including one that only two players in NBA history have made a comeback to the court from, Ball has his sights set on the 2024-25 campaign’s opening night to return to action, but the Bulls may have other plans. During the first season without his services, the Bulls opted to draft Dalen Terry, sign Goran Dragic in the offseason, and, lastly, sign Patrick Beverley before the trade deadline. Missing the postseason that year after making a playoff appearance the prior year, Chicago held firm to their theory of waiting until Ball could return. In their next attempt at short-term solutions at the position, they inked homegrown scrappy veteran Jevon Carter, who, too, didn’t fit the bill as yet another season fell short of playoff contention.
While Ball is the type of story that is hard not to root for, Bulls fans have waited nearly three seasons to see his product through to fruition, and it has hurt their result with each passing season failing. While they held onto his salary and roster spot for too long, parting ways finally signified change. Giddey will fill his role as the starting point guard, excelling in playmaking and ball security. Ball’s defense and three-point shooting will be a void filled via Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu’s improved three-point shooting. However, trading for an option five years younger and $15 million cheaper annually is a step in the right direction.
Even though this is the first correct move for this front office in a long time, do Arturas Karnisovas and company deserve another shot at building a championship roster? The last three seasons of dormant activity should prove alone that this leadership cannot make the correct moves to move the franchise toward the playoffs.
The next big decision will be Zach LaVine’s future, which will almost surely be with a new team. DeMar DeRozan might be parting ways with the Bulls now, too, if they’re seeing a significant youth movement, and could include a sign-and-trade scenario to jump into the top ten of the 2024 NBA draft, where they’ve expressed desire in selecting next week.
