Josh Giddey And Bulls Playing ‘Poker’ In Contract Negotiations

Giddey wants his payday to match peers like Jalen Suggs and Jalen Johnson. Last season, Suggs locked in a frontloaded deal with Orlando. Johnson secured $30 million per year flat with Atlanta. Naturally, Josh Giddey wants his Bulls contract figure to land in that same territory.

Giddey’s numbers back up the ask. The 6-foot-8 guard-forward turned in a strong campaign with Chicago, putting up 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists a night. He added 1.2 steals per game and raised his three-point shooting to 37.8% on respectable volume. Those stats show growth and justify why his camp won’t budge off the $30 million mark.

Chicago Holds the Stronger Hand

Yet the Bulls know they hold the better hand in this poker game. Chicago’s front office, led by Artūras Karnišovas, wants to avoid repeating past missteps like the Patrick Williams contract. This time, they won’t overpay.

The current market works in the Bulls’ favor. As a restricted free agent, Giddey’s leverage is thin. Brooklyn was the only team with cap space, but the Nets used that room absorbing deals like the Michael Porter Jr. trade. No other teams can swoop in with big offers.

Giddey could bet on himself by taking the mid-level exception somewhere else. But that’s unlikely. Playing on a smaller deal leaves him one injury away from losing millions. As Achilles injuries rise league-wide, few young players are willing to take that gamble. For now, Josh Giddey’s contract dance gives the Bulls the edge.

A Likely Outcome

Expect this standoff to settle somewhere in the high 20s per year. Giddey’s camp wants Suggs money. Chicago aims for a slight discount, given their upper hand. Unless another team magically clears cap space, the Bulls can squeeze Giddey’s number without insulting him.

Joe Cowley’s summary rings true: “Let the posturing continue.” Both sides know this is a negotiation about pride as much as dollars. But at the end of the day, this contract battle with the Bulls front office will end with Josh Giddey back in Chicago, well paid — just not at Suggs’ exact level.

In the NBA’s high-stakes world, the cards rarely lie.