The Oklahoma City Thunder will need to make a decision about Josh Giddey and that could happen as soon as this season’s trade deadline.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Thunder will likely start getting calls from opposing teams on Giddey’s availability. The 21-year-old is in his third season and will be eligible for a contract extension this summer.
Giddey can technically wait and enter restricted free agency in 2025, but the Thunder historically like to decide on a player’s long-term fit before reaching that point.
The fit with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was always a bit wonky. Both are ball-dominant guards. The former has risen to superstardom, so he has to have the ball in his hands more times than not when he’s on the court.
Still though, despite the odd fit, Giddey had two solid seasons to start his career for OKC. He did a fine job adjusting to playing out of character and was not a negative on the floor as he is right now.
However, Giddey is going through the worst season of his career. He’s averaging career lows in points, rebounds and assists. He has a 47.9 true-shooting percentage. He’s also averaging career lows in assist percentage and is a negative-11.9 in on-off splits.
Off the court, Giddey is being investigated by both the NBA and police in California over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. According to Fischer, the results of the investigations can play a role in how interested teams could be — but he ultimately still expects teams to call OKC.
“Come February, opposing front offices will surely call Oklahoma City about the trade prospects of Josh Giddey as well, depending on the outcome of the NBA’s investigation regarding his alleged off-court relations. Before the social-media accusations that Giddey had an improper relationship with a minor, other front offices were beginning to pinpoint Giddey as a quiet trade possibility in his own right, this being his third season without improving into a viable 3-point shooter next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Australian playmaker becomes extension eligible this summer.”
It’ll be quite surprising if a Giddey trade materializes by the trade deadline. Even before the allegations surfaced, OKC preached patience when it came to figuring out its young core. The Thunder seem willing to stick it out with Giddey’s current on-court struggles before making any drastic decisions.
