Last summer, Josh Giddey made it clear to the OKC Thunder that he viewed himself as far more than just a role player in the league and that, if the club intended to have him continue to serve as such a commodity, perhaps their best course of action would be to part ways.
On June 20, Sam Presti and company granted his wish of departure, as they shipped the former lottery pick out to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Alex Caruso, a player who wound up playing a major role in Oklahoma City's recent title run.
Now, even with the high-end success that came their way as a result, the Thunder were by no means the only beneficiaries from the swap exchange.
Chicago consistently found themselves rolling out regular lineups with one of the most productive guard talents in the association leading the charge in Giddey.
From January 20 onward, he even averaged a ridiculous 18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 49.6 percent shooting from the floor and 43.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Yet, despite this elite level of play, OKC is seemingly the only one of the two teams unquestionably committed to reaping the rewards of last summer's trade for the long haul, as they've already extended Caruso through 2028-29.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have yet to lock Giddey down and, if the guard holds firm on his reported contract demands, they may never.
At least, that's what Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson seems to believe.
Like Thunder, Bulls are hesitant to adhere to Josh Giddey's desires
When discussing the disconnect between the Chicago Bulls and Josh Giddey on a recent edition of The Fastbreak, the insider revealed that while there is a mutual interest in agreeing to a new, multi-year contract, it seems the organization is far from willing to adhere to his reported salary desires of $30 million a year.
"I don’t have particular numbers other than to say that Josh Giddey’s $30 million a year price tag that has been well-documented in media and out there since last fall when the rookie contract extension was discussed, has not ever crossed my radar. I have never heard the Bulls mention that number. So I would not expect Josh Giddey to sign a $30 million deal,” Johnson said.
Of course, the situation between this and the one with Oklahoma City last summer isn't perfectly synonymous. Unlike the Thunder, the Bulls seem somewhat flexible when it comes to trying to keep the 22-year-old in tow, as Johnson made sure to note that both the team and guard "want to get a deal done.”
However, as was the case a year ago, a line in the sand has been drawn that certainly should curb Josh Giddey's expectations of getting his way.