close
close

Karnisovas Stays Quiet, Really Bad Trade Ratings, Coby White, More

Posted on by angelo
Karnisovas Stays Quiet, Really Bad Trade Ratings, Coby White, More

The Chicago Bulls made the Alex Caruso trade official Friday morning. And yes, they even managed to ruin everything.

  • The official statement provided by the Bulls did not include any comments from any member of the front office. No comments thanking Alex Caruso for his services. No comments promoted Josh Giddey despite the immediate backlash the trade received online. Not only does this seem like another tone-deaf response from Arturas Karnisovas and Co., it just seems sloppy. Does my overall frustration with the organization affect my reaction to something as small as a press release? Probably. But it really seems like the bare minimum for a front office to release a statement after a major transaction.
  • Take Sam Presti, for example. The Thunder’s official announcement of the trade included a lengthy statement from their front office chief. He thanked Giddey for his time with the franchise and wished him well in Chicago. Of course, he also explained why the Thunder considered Alex Caruso a crucial addition. Oh, how I envy Thunder fans.
  • It’s rare to see almost everyone agree that a team lost a rally. Typically you see a handful of people trying to zig zag while everyone else zags. But it’s very difficult to find here. From locals to national media, the general consensus seemed to be: “HOW THE HELL DID THEY GET ANYTHING ELSE!” ? » If you don’t believe me, let me share some of the trade notes found on the interweb…

    • The Athletic – OKC (A), CHI (B)
    CBS Sports – OKC (A+), CHI (C-)
    SBNation – OKC (A+), CHI (F)
    ESPN – OKC (A), CHI (C-)
    Bleacher Report – OKC (A++++++), CHI (D-)
    USA today – OKC (A+), CHI (D+)

  • So what grades will I hand out? GOOD, I would give the Thunder an A+ in a heartbeat. Giddey had fallen out of favor with the addition of several other high-potential young players over the past two seasons. They knew it was time to leave him. In exchange, they get one of the best defenders in the NBA after already finishing No. 1 in the Western Conference. Oh, and they get to keep their stock of choice!
  • I give the Chicago Bulls a C-. While it’s true that what continues to happen this offseason will impact how we view this trade, it’s also true that they lost this negotiation. Caruso is coming off a career year with one of the best contracts in the NBA (even though it’s the final year of that deal). Giddey is coming off his worst year and is ready for a rookie-level extension. The Bulls had all the leverage in this situation. They should have AT LEAST been able to get an extra trump card.
  • Now, the reason I’m not going lower than the C range is because Giddey feels like a strong buy low candidate. He’s a former No. 6 overall pick who is just 21 years old and averaged nearly 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds during the 2022 season -23. Does it have its faults? Absolutely. The jump shot is disgusting, as is his defense at times. But he represents at least one version of the long-term bet the Bulls should be making right now. I think Bulls fans will be pleasantly surprised by him at times this year because he’s not as bad as last season’s playoff run represented. At the same time, development is key, and the Bulls haven’t necessarily thrived in that area over the years.
  • If Bulls fans want to get a closer look at Giddey, he is expected to lead the Australian team at the Paris Olympics later this summer. The list also included notable names like Joe Ingles, Dante Exum, Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green, and more.
    • Josh Giddey of the Chicago BullsJosh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls
    © Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
  • Coby White spoke with SLAM about his breakout season and what he hopes to accomplish next. During the interview, he was asked about the challenges he faced early in his career, and I hope that’s something the Chicago Bulls think about as they welcome more young talent:

    • “It was difficult at the beginning, especially as a rookie. You look around the league and see all your counterparts that were drafted in the same area as you, and you see a lot of guys playing 36 minutes, starting, leading their teams to victory and playing (in) those critical moments . . For me, I was coming off the bench and playing about 18 minutes a game. I think the mental part was the hardest for me. I’ve always been a hard worker and I’ve always worked on my game. I just wanted to show them that no matter what position you put me in, I’m going to continue to be myself and work like I always work at gym,” White said.

  • Playing time is so important for these first round picks. I understand that it’s important to prove your worth, but I would say the same thing about the margin of error. Whoever the Bulls select in next week’s draft, that player would immediately be a part of the rotation with a pretty long leash. Either way, be sure to read White’s full interview here. He named the All-Star Game as one of his next personal goals!
  • Positive vibes? Never heard of them.
  • Um, that looks like a mistake…