Eye-watering number Josh Giddey will seemingly earn in new Chicago Bulls contract
Updated . First published at
Josh Giddey will likely sign a new contract to remain with the Chicago Bulls worth around $46m AUD per season, according to ESPNRadio's Jake Weinbach.
The Australian guard was officially given a qualifying offer by the Bulls on Friday, giving the franchise the opportunity to match any deal offered to him.
Giddey, who was traded to Chicago last summer for Alex Caruso, enjoyed a breakout season in his new home.
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Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls celebrates with teammates. Getty
His key improvement came as a three-point shooter, hitting them at 38 per cent last season, on four attempts per game, up from 33 per cent for the Thunder.
Of course, Caruso and OKC would go on to win the NBA title in Giddey's absence, with the roster shift unlocking the full defensive potential of the Thunder.
Chicago made a key roster move ahead of NBA free agency, trading guard Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for wing Isaac Okoro.
Ball returned after missing two full seasons with injury, but his skills overlap significantly with Giddey, showing the franchise is in the Aussie's corner by moving him elsewhere.
The length of the contract is yet to be confirmed, but a five-year deal would put the value of Giddey's contract at roughly $229m AUD.
He still has a while to go before surpassing Ben Simmons' $310m AUD career earnings, the record for an Australian in the NBA.
Simmons himself is an unrestricted free agent this season, coming off the max contract he signed with Philadelphia originally.
He spent last season with the Clippers and will either re-sign or look for a new home once free agency opens in July.
Dante Exum will also be a free agent, with a report in May suggesting Dallas will consider a new deal for him.
Joe Ingles also has a decision to make after the 37-year-old provided a veteran presence off the bench for Minnesota. Patty Mills is in a similar boat.
