Australian basketball star Josh Giddey has been traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Chicago Bulls.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the shocking trade on Friday morning (AEST), with Guidi being sent to the Bulls in exchange for All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso.
Andrew Schlecht, who covers the Thunder for The Athletic, confirmed later in the morning that the trade did not include any picks and was simply a player swap.
Guidi was the sixth overall pick by Oklahoma City in the 2021 NBA Draft, coming off his least productive season in Year 3 and struggling to develop alongside the top-seeded Thunder's promising core.
His scoring dropped from a career-high 16.6 points per game to 12.3 points in 80 games.
This included Guidi's role gradually decreasing throughout the season and eventually coming off the bench in the 2024 playoffs, averaging 18 minutes per game.
The 21-year-old is eligible to sign a maximum extension on his basic rookie contract this offseason.
Wojnarowski later wrote that the Bulls were “determined” to find a playmaker to replace the oft-injured Lonzo Ball, and saw “All-Star qualities” in Guidy that had yet to be realized given the caliber of playmakers around him in Oklahoma City.
“Giddy was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and has developed into one of the league's most creative young playmakers,” the ESPN source added.
“The Bulls will give Guidi the opportunity to have the ball in his hands and have more freedom to pass and score. Chicago needed an offensive engine and the Bulls got that engine by acquiring Guidi.”
The trade is the latest development in what Guidi described as a “roller coaster” third year in the league in his end-of-season exit interview.
Guidi was heavily criticized not only for his performance on the court but also for allegations of inappropriate relationships with underage girls.
Newport Beach police announced in January that they would not file charges because they had “not established any criminal conduct” by Guidi, and the NBA subsequently closed its investigation into the Australian guard in May.
Speaking to reporters at his departure news conference, Guidi reflected on being benched for the first time in his career during Oklahoma City's playoff series against Dallas, saying it was a “bitter pill to swallow” but acknowledged it was the right call by head coach Mark Dainneault.
“Coach did what he thought was best for the team, and I probably agree with him, to be honest,” Guidi said.
“It's difficult for a player to sit there and say, 'You should be on the bench,' but at the time Caso [Cason Wallace]Isaiah [Joe],wig [Aaron Wiggins]these guys were probably better for Dallas in this series.
“It's a hard truth to accept, but for me, being 21 years old, it's probably a good thing that I'm going through this now because I never want to go through this again. I'll be better and stronger as a player if I can make sure this never happens again.”
That's clearly not the case now, and Guidi is slated to be a key foundational piece for a Chicago team that has had playoff chances in recent years but never been able to take the next step toward a title.
It will be interesting to see what the Bulls do next, especially with regards to Zach LaVine's contract, and moving Guidi could signal they're willing to invest in the future and restructure of some kind.
That would be Guidi's best path to getting more time on the ball, as it would be tough for him to become a full-time point guard with LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on the roster.
