NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago should trade Josh Giddey?

The Chicago Bulls are floundering out of the gate at 1-9, sitting dead last in the NBA in defensive rating (124.4) and net rating (-16.0). While growing pains are expected during a rebuild, the early returns under new head coach Tiago Splitter point to a glaring structural problem in the backcourt. It is time for Chicago to seriously consider ending the Josh Giddey experiment.

When Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham took the reins and drafted Caleb Wilson fourth overall in June, he ushered in a singular organizational mandate: build entirely around Wilson. Every roster decision must revolve around maximizing the 6-foot-10 forward's skill set, getting him clean touches, and simplifying his developmental runway.

On paper, Giddey checks several boxes as a co-pilot. He is a willing transition passer and a capable driver who can find Wilson in space and deliver pinpoint alley-oops. In practice, however, Giddey’s limitations are actively cramping the floor for Chicago's franchise cornerstone.

Clashing with the "SLAP" Philosophy

During training camp, Graham outlined a clear vision for the Bulls' identity built around his "SLAP" philosophy: Size, Length, Athleticism, and Physicality.

Outside of standing 6-foot-8, Giddey runs counter to nearly every pillar of that blueprint. He possesses a neutral wingspan and lacks the elite burst, vertical pop, and physicality required to survive against top-tier perimeter athletes.

Offensively, the friction is even more pronounced:

Lane Congestion: Giddey operates in the exact same interior lanes as Wilson and third-year forward Matas Buzelis.
Lack of Off-Dribble Shooting: Without a reliable step-back, midrange pull-up, or consistent three-point stroke, Giddey struggles to punish defenses in tight coverage.
Defensive Sagging: Opposing teams routinely ignore Giddey on the perimeter, shrinking the floor and packing the paint against Wilson's drives.

Paying $25 million annually for a primary ball-handler who compromises half-court spacing is a luxury a rebuilding team cannot afford. Every game played in this cramped alignment risks forcing Wilson into bad developmental habits—a trap that plagued numerous lottery picks during Minnesota’s lost decade from 2013 to 2016.

Even after Graham brought in veteran sharpshooters Norman Powell and Buddy Hield to bolster perimeter spacing, Chicago’s offense remains stagnant at 24th in offensive rating (108.4). The Bulls do not just need stationary catch-and-shoot threats; they need dynamic, off-the-dribble shot creation from the guard spot.

Two Realistic Trade Targets to Reset the Backcourt

Rather than waiting until next summer to pivot, Chicago should aggressively explore the trade market ahead of the February deadline. Two clean, salary-matching swaps stand out as logical avenues to inject perimeter creation into the lineup:

The Case for Phoenix and Jalen Green

Swapping Giddey for Jalen Green is the cleanest mutual fit on the board. Green is far from a finished product—his defensive lapses rival Giddey’s, and he has never cleared 35% from beyond the arc for a full season. Yet his shot diet and explosive first step fundamentally alter how defenses guard the perimeter. Defenses cannot sag off Green; his ability to attack closeouts and pull up off the dribble forces defenders out to the three-point line, immediately unlocking clean operating room for Wilson and Buzelis. For Phoenix, acquiring Giddey finally gives them an orthodox, pass-first floor general to organize their offense.

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