NBA insider Bobby Marks has floated a hypothetical trade for Australian Josh Giddey as the Oklahoma City guard faces an uncertain future heading into the offseason.
Marks, who spent 20 years working in the NBA and currently works as ESPN’s Front Office Insider, suggested a deal with the Utah Jazz — one of the more logical suitors for Giddey.
Although there were no players outside of Giddey involved in Marks’ hypothetical trade.
Instead, his trade saw Giddey sent to Utah in exchange for the Jazz’s 10th pick in this year’s draft and their 2025 first round-pick, via the Minnesota Timberwolves, which is top-14 protected.
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The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie discussed Giddey’s potential trade value on the latest episode of his Game Theory Podcast, casting doubt over whether the Australian would net a future first.
“I am sure [Oklahoma City’s] goal will be to move him for a future first,” he said.
“But I don’t know how amenable teams will be … I think it will be a heavily protected future first if they were to move him.
“They are not extending him this summer, there is just no way.”
Vecenie suggested a deal with Washington, which would see Giddey link up with former Oklahoma City executive and now Wizards general manager Will Dawkins, in exchange for the Wizards’ No. 26 pick and a future second-rounder.
Giddey, who was benched for the first time in his career and generally saw limited minutes in the series against Dallas, is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension.
The Thunder could see plenty of value keeping Giddey around given his performance the series prior against the Pelicans, while the 21-year-old obviously offers OKC a great contingency plan should either Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams go down.
But Gilgeous-Alexander is set for a supermax extension in the 2025 offseason while Williams and Chet Holmgren will soon be eligible for rookie extensions of their own.
In other news, the Thunder may not be able to pay what Giddey’s management is after, although there is no concrete reporting at this stage as to what that figure may be.
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SIXERS’ BIGGEST THREAT IN FREE AGENCY BID FOR PAUL GEORGE
Elsewhere, while Philadelphia has been heavily linked to Paul George ahead of free agency this summer, it seems like they have some serious competition in the Eastern Conference.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on his Substack that Orlando “continues to be mentioned by various league observers as a natural suitor” for not only George but also Klay Thompson.
The Los Angeles Clippers are keen to re-sign George in free agency but Stein wrote that they have “made it clear by letting negotiations drag out to this point that they want to do it at their price”.
The Sixers are definitely a threat given they have nearly $65 million in cap space this offseason, which is more than enough to absorb George’s $49.4 million max salary next year.
The Magic, meanwhile, are in a similar situation where they should have around $55 million in cap space — again, enough to take on George should the Clippers not give him what he wants.
BRONNY NO LONGER A GUARANTEED TICKET TO LANDING LEBRON
It looks like Bronny James won’t be making a Lakers debut just yet.
Earlier this month, his dad, Los Angeles star LeBron James, said that playing together was “not a priority” after he had previously stated an interest in doing so.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on a recent episode of The Woj Pod. NBA teams no longer see Bronny as a ticket to securing LeBron.
Wojnarowski then shared that the Lakers were no longer considering Bronny as their first-round pick.
“The Lakers, to my understanding, they’re not considering Bronny James at No. 17,” Wojnarowski said.
“There’s no reason to take him at 17. If you wanted to take him earlier than 55, you could move up some places, but you are just giving away value.”
Bronny is coming off a less-than-stand-out first season at USC after his freshman year was delayed due to heart surgery after suffering cardiac arrest during a USC practice over the summer.
He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games for the Trojans, making six starts.
LeBron has spoken of the possibility of playing with his son for quite some time, but Wojnarowski said in early May that the family’s new goal is to find the young James the right developmental program.
Bronny could still go back to college, as he retained his eligibility — and entered the transfer portal — when he declared for the NBA draft.
ESPN recently predicted the younger James will get picked by the Warriors at No. 52 overall in a mock draft.
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“That’s the priority for them as a family. What’s best for Bronny James? If it ends up them together, that would be great, but I don’t get a sense it’s playing much of any role in LeBron James’ decision on next season,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” last month.
LeBron still has the chance to opt out of his deal with the Lakers and has not shared definitive plans for what he plans to do next.
“I’ve seen, heard a lot of reports about my future. I said it last night and I’ll say it again,” James posted on X at the end of April.
“I do not know yet as I’m only thinking about spending time with my family & friends! When I know after speaking with the fam, my counsel as well as my representation about it then you guys will know.”