Josh Giddey Reacts to Bulls’ Latest Move as Critical Decision Lingers

The Chicago Bulls re-signed point guard Tre Jones to a three-year, $24 million contract. Their decision got the attention Jones’ Bulls teammate, Josh Giddey.

Giddey is himself a free agent this offseason, but he is restricted.

His situation is a bit more complex than Jones’. Giddey still took time to offer a potentially telling reaction to news of the former San Antonio Spurs guard’s return. He shared a grinning emoji over a graphic detailing the move.

“Free agent guard Tre Jones has agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal to return to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Shams Charania posted on X on June 30. “Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management finalized the new deal with Bulls officials tonight.”

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is a big fan of Jones’.

Tre Jones Won Over Bulls HC Billy Donovan

The Bulls acquired Jones in the three-team trade with the Spurs that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings before the deadline. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.2 rebounds with 1.1 steals in 18 appearances with the Bulls.

Jones started nine of those games, sporting a 14.9/7.1/4.8 line with 1.2 takeaways in those starts with the Bulls.

“Billy Donovan had all he needed to sleep well Monday night,” The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley wrote on June 30. “As the NBA’s free-agent negotiating period opened, the Bulls, wasting no time in giving their coach a player he loved to gush about this past season, agreed to keep point guard Tre Jones on a three-year, $24 million deal.”

According to Cowley, the Bulls are just getting started, and Giddey could be next.

Bulls in Position of Power With Josh Giddey

Giddey is part of a backcourt still rife with question marks, including Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White.

“Even after trading oft-injured Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers on Saturday, the Bulls still are loaded up on guards and might not be done dealing,” Cowley wrote. “Re-signing restricted free agent Josh Giddey remains a priority, but they might look to trade Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu in order to become a wing-dominant team with more size in the starting lineup.”

The Bulls may have gained some additional leverage in their talks with Giddey.

The Brooklyn Nets were the one team that had the cap space to sign Giddey away from the Bulls this offseason. Brooklyn instead drafted similar players, and they traded for Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets.

That leaves the Bulls in an even greater position of power. They already had the right of first refusal on any offer sheet Giddey may have signed.

The Nets’ moves have all but made that a moot issue, though.

“Credit to AK [Arturas Karnisovas] and the Bulls for waiting on a Giddey deal. After the Nets MPJ trade, no other team can now offer him what he is looking for,” CHGO Bulls’ Will Gottlieb posted on X on June 30. “We’ll see how it plays out, but Bulls in prime position to take advantage and get Giddey on a reasonable number