As the 2024-25 NBA season draws closer, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey remains in contract discussions that have yet to reach a resolution. Giddey is one of several restricted free agents hoping to secure a new agreement, with both the player and the team still working to find common ground on terms.
Current Offers and Differences in Expectations
Reports reveal that the Bulls have presented Giddey with a four-year deal worth $80 million. However, the 22-year-old guard seeks a higher compensation package, aiming for close to $30 million per year. This gap in expectations complicates the path to a finalized deal as negotiations continue.
While interest from other teams, particularly the Golden State Warriors, emerged earlier in the offseason, it has notably waned, positioning the Bulls as Giddey’s most realistic destination moving forward.
Expert Insights on Possible Agreement Outcomes
Dan Favale from Bleacher Report provides analysis on how the negotiations may unfold, suggesting a compromise is likely. He predicts Giddey might settle on an average salary near $24 million annually, leading to a four-year contract worth approximately $96 million, including a player option for the final year.
Favale explains the delicate negotiation balance:
The 22-year-old does not have another suitor dangling the money he wants. We’d have heard about it by now. While that gives the Bulls a ton of leverage, they’re not about to squeeze their young floor general to the point he signs his qualifying offer and heads into unrestricted free agency next summer.
—Dan Favale, Bleacher Report
This reveals both sides’ cautious position as they seek to avoid Giddey entering unrestricted free agency prematurely, which would complicate the Bulls’ plans.
The Bulls’ Outlook with Giddey’s Potential Return
Should Giddey finalize a deal, he will rejoin a Bulls team that ended last season with a 39-43 record and has participated in the NBA Play-In Tournament three years in a row. The franchise has managed only one playoff series victory in the past eight seasons, heightening the urgency behind contract talks to stabilize the roster and improve postseason prospects.
With time running out before the new season begins, all eyes remain on whether a contract agreement will meet both Giddey’s financial goals and the Bulls’ salary structure, setting the stage for how the team will move forward.