While the negotiations dragged into September, Josh Giddey confirmed this week that his contract talks with the Bulls were never contentious, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. The Australian guard re-signed with the Bulls on a four-year, $100MM deal as a restricted free agent.
“When you hit free agency — I was a restricted [free agent] — rumors will start to circulate, and I let my management and agent handle that side of things with the front office here,” Giddey said. “So I tried to stay out of it. When there was something to know, I knew. My agent would tell me. Other than that, there were never any bad feelings. It’s a negotiation, and that’s how it goes. It’s kind of the nature of the business.
“When the season ended, I knew that was going to happen. . . . This is where I always wanted to be, and now I’m locked in for another four years.”
According to Cowley, Giddey said he’s relieved he won’t have to think about a new deal for multiple years.
“Everyone wants to play for that second contract; it’s part of being an NBA player,” Giddey said. “You want to extend your career. I was no different. The fact that it’s locked in and I have four years where I don’t have to think about it is a pretty big weight off my shoulders because it was always kind of lingering.”
Here’s more from Chicago:
- Due to the limitations of what they can offer, Coby White has reportedly informed the Bulls he isn’t going to sign an extension before he hits unrestricted free agency next summer. The 25-year-old guard said he’s focused on the present rather than the future, as Cowley relays. “I’m thinking about now and how I can help my team win and become better in every aspect of the game,” White said. “I’m blessed and fortunate to be in this situation, but I always say that I love being here, I love the front office, I love the relationship that I built with Coach (Billy Donovan), and me and my teammates are super close, so I’m enjoying every moment.”
- Backup point guard Tre Jones was determined to return to the Bulls instead of exploring external options in free agency, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter video link). “I definitely wanted to be back. I didn’t wanna think about going anywhere else,” said Jones, who re-signed with Chicago on a three-year, $24MM contract.
- Sixth-year forward Patrick Williams lost weight and added lean muscle over the summer in an effort to improve his game, tweets K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network. Williams wasn’t wasn’t pleased with his performance in ’24/25. “I need to be better,” he said of his offseason approach.
Well, at least Patrick didn’t think his performance was good ! The bar is low
I’m really glad the Bulls kept Giddey and Jones. They had a really promising first season with Chicago, and I wanna see more of that. And, they’re happy with being on the team, too. Hope the Bulls are able to keep Coby White when the future ultimately DOES come. I really like Coby, and I wanna see him retire as a Bull. Chicago needs to let go of Patrick Williams though.
As frustrating as pwill is, I think bulls best move it to keep him unf. He has no value so the best bet is to bet on improbable improvement . It’s not like the bulls have much else of substance to bet on instead
Maybe Williams should learn how to play basketball one of these off seasons.
White is definitely walking next offseason. He’s having to play shooting guard to accommodate Josh Giddey and he’s stuck on a team that doesn’t want to improve its roster.
I still think the TWolves makes a ton of sense for him. They are a going to be a playoff team as long as Anthony Edwards is there, they have a hole at point guard and Dillingham who is the long term answer has some questions on his game and could be better suited to a sixth man role. White would offer shooting and secondary ball handling.
I think a sign and trade for Julius Randle makes sense as then Chicago also gets someone good back and keeps them relevant.
Otherwise maybe a sign and trade for Jalen Green to Pheonix and have White pair with Devin Booker over there. He’d fill the PG spot and move Book back to SG, they have a bunch of good bigs and will be close to a playoff/play in side.
While Chicago gets a backcourt of Giddey and Green and that’ll sell seats and keep them where they are at
Do you just have a big wheel at home and spin and come up with these things? What do the Bulls need Randle for? Do they need a tall Minorah holder at Reinsdorf’s synagogue or something? Guys been a problem everywhere he’s been. Bulls have enough problems. Randle is nobodies answer to anything except who is the most overpaid loser in the NBA.
Yeah it’s not going to do much for the Bulls but their front office isn’t exactly doing anything to make them better they just move the pieces around every couple seasons and try again. I don’t think Randle does much for them but it’s something the front office would do and if white looks set to leave I think they’d prefer to set something in return for him then nothing
Sht if wolves want white we’ll take McDaniels off ur hands ! Other than that I don’t think there’s a deal
I don’t think I’d ever want to even see Coby leave Chicago.
Bulls really don’t have much negotiation ong power as White will be unrestricted and can go where he wants.
That’s why I suggested TWolves cause it would be a great fit for White should he choose it but the Wolves could then say hey Chicago you want Randle we will swap you (which then helps our their own salary cap situation and gives the bulls back a solid starter too as opposed to him leaving for nothing in return).
McDaniels I guarantee is off the table and not going anywhere lol
Hard no to Colby White. Why would you trade the best team defender for a trash can?
best team defender haha
unfortunately on this team that might be true
I talking about him next offseason as an unrestricted free agent