Josh Giddey has found restricted free agency to be a slow-moving process. Giddey and the Chicago Bulls are expected to reach an agreement on a new deal, but there’s been no real movement as of yet.
Giddey has reportedly been seeking a new contract that averages $30 million per season. The Bulls know that the market for restricted free agents has basically dried up, so they are slow-playing things with their young playmaker. Chicago also isn’t likely to go to $30 million per season in a new deal for Giddey.
As a restricted free agent, the options for Giddey are limited. He can wait for a new long-term deal with the Bulls. Or Giddey can sign his $11 million qualifying offer. That would put him on a one-year deal with Chicago, after which Giddey would be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. If Giddey signs the qualifying offer, he’d also have a one-year no-trade clause, because he would lose his Bird rights if traded while on that deal.