East Notes: Bulls, Josh Giddey, Pistons, Knicks, roster decisions

Bulls

Chicago finally closed the book on Josh Giddey’s summer-long free agency, agreeing to a four-year, $100 million deal.

As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron noted, the Bulls still have their $14.1 million mid-level exception in their back pocket, but it’s likely they’ll hold it until later in the season when a roster upgrade or salary absorption makes more sense.

Looking further down the road, Chicago projects to have $40–50 million in 2026 cap space even with Giddey locked in — as long as they keep Coby White’s $24.5 million cap hold.

Gozlan suggested White himself could command around $30 million per year with another strong season, meaning his situation is shaping up to be one of Chicago’s biggest decisions next summer.

Pistons

For the Pistons, the clock is ticking on extension talks for Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. Their deadline is October 20, and Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press pointed to recent deals for Giddey, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Trey Murphy III as potential comparables.

Both Ivey and Duren showed flashes last season, though injuries and inconsistency left some question marks. If the Pistons pass on extensions now, both players could look to test a cap space–rich market next summer.

Knicks

The Knicks’ roster math is front and center as camp looms. New York has agreements with Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet, and Garrison Mathews, but only the apron space to keep one of them.

Ian Begley of SNY reported the Knicks aren’t expected to make any trades before camp, meaning training camp and preseason will likely decide who survives.

Begley also noted that the Knicks plan to use their 14th roster spot on rookie Mohamed Diawara.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line added that New York considered signing Thomas Bryant before opting to focus on backcourt and wing depth.