05-15-2026, 10:25 PM
I saw this idea elsewhere...really more of a fan invention than an actual rumor.
Giddey + 15 for Gafford + 9
Dallas gets a taller PG who makes great sense next to Kyrie. He's only 24, so not ancient. Dallas has to add a tiny bit of salary, so A J Johnson? Giddey is more valuable than Gafford. So the spread in value between 9 and 15 is the compensation that makes up for that difference. There will be a very good big on the board at 15 to backfill Gafford. It could turn into something roughly equivalent to trading Dennis Smith at 9 for Bam at 14 while at the same time getting a middle of the pack starter at PG.
Chicago needs a center. They also get to reset a little youner around 4, 9 and Buzelis (and to a lesser extent Dillingham and Essengue). New management might or might not value Giddey the same as the prior folks and may not want to go through another negotiation...especially without leverage from Giddey being a RFA.
Giddey definitely has some holes. D isn't great and he doesn't bring much shooting gravity to the table. But, he drops some dimes and will be fantastic with Flagg on the break. 19/10/9 per 36 isn't nothing. I get that we like our shiny new toy at 9 and it will be hard to change course mentally. But are we sure the worst of these guards is going to be as good as Giddey? He certainly won't be 6' 8" and a good fit day one next to Kyrie the same way Giddey will. I found this intriguing.
Giddey + 15 for Gafford + 9
Dallas gets a taller PG who makes great sense next to Kyrie. He's only 24, so not ancient. Dallas has to add a tiny bit of salary, so A J Johnson? Giddey is more valuable than Gafford. So the spread in value between 9 and 15 is the compensation that makes up for that difference. There will be a very good big on the board at 15 to backfill Gafford. It could turn into something roughly equivalent to trading Dennis Smith at 9 for Bam at 14 while at the same time getting a middle of the pack starter at PG.
Chicago needs a center. They also get to reset a little youner around 4, 9 and Buzelis (and to a lesser extent Dillingham and Essengue). New management might or might not value Giddey the same as the prior folks and may not want to go through another negotiation...especially without leverage from Giddey being a RFA.
Giddey definitely has some holes. D isn't great and he doesn't bring much shooting gravity to the table. But, he drops some dimes and will be fantastic with Flagg on the break. 19/10/9 per 36 isn't nothing. I get that we like our shiny new toy at 9 and it will be hard to change course mentally. But are we sure the worst of these guards is going to be as good as Giddey? He certainly won't be 6' 8" and a good fit day one next to Kyrie the same way Giddey will. I found this intriguing.
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