Chicago Bulls starter under enormous pressure, per ESPN

The Chicago Bulls could be entering another rebuilding season by the time the trade deadline comes on February 6.

The Bulls have some valuable pieces like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and possibly Coby White that all could be on the move signally a full-fledged rebuild.

If the Bulls do indeed go into a rebuild, they will need to have players like Josh Giddey to step up and possibly be a player they look to for them to build around.

The Chicago Bulls need Josh Giddey to step up offensively

The 22-year-old Giddey was acquired by the Bulls when they sent point guard Alex Caruso over to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his first season with the Bulls Giddey has put up respectable numbers averaging a career-low 11.4 points, career-highs in rebounds with 7.3, and assists with 6.7 in 40 games played this season. When looking at Giddey’s advanced stats for points per 40 minutes he is averaging 16.1 points per game more than his rookie season of 15.9.

Giddey has given the Bulls somewhat of a mixed bag offensively with having an amazing game one night and then is nowhere to be seen the next. In the Bull’s latest win over the LA Clippers Giddey was outstanding with almost averaging a triple-double with having 18 points, 9 assists, and 10 rebounds, with shooting 77.8% from the field, and 100% from the free throw line. Before that however, in the Bull’s loss to the Portland Trailblazers Giddey was nowhere to be seen scoring no points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in 29 minutes played.

Giddey needs to be more consistent to earn a contract extension

With Giddey giving the Bulls a mixed bag offensively and the Bulls looking to be sellers at next month’s trade deadline, they’ll need Giddey to be more consistent offensively if he is to warrant a contract extension from the Bulls. Currently, Giddey is under a club option for $8.4 million this season and is expected to be an unrestricted free agent after this year and with not being able to give consistent levels of production for the Bulls he is not doing himself any favors to get a payday.

Billy Donovan has also not been playing Giddey down the stretch in ball games because of his inconsistent offensive play and has been favoring Lonzo Ball instead. It will be ever more important for Giddey to bear down during crunch time and show he is worth putting out there in tight spots, especially if the Bulls sell off all their top pieces in LaVine, Vucevic, and possibly White.

Time will tell if Giddey is worth keeping around

The ball metaphorically speaking is in Giddey’s court to show that he is worth keeping around long term.

Still young enough and showing some flashes that he can be a star in the league once he puts it all together, Giddey has a lot of time to figure things out if he is to earn a long-term and lucrative deal.