One of the most striking parts of the NBA outside season of this year has been the lack of movement with limited free agents. One of the best RFAs, Josh Giddey, finally drew a deal to return to the Chicago Bulls. Giddey agreed with a fairly four -year contract of $ 100 million with the Bulls. This was a compromise for Giddey, who is said to look for a deal worth around $ 30 million a year.
Just in: Limited free agent Josh Giddey has reached agreement on a four -year $ 100 million deal to re -sign with the Chicago Bulls, Agent Daniel Moldovan of Lighthouse Sports Management tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rtjqf7p679
– Shams Charania (@shamscharania) September 9, 2025
Compared to the five -year -old $ 131 ($ 136 with incentives) from Jaden McDaniels that he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves last year, the value of McDaniels’s contract is clear. None of this means that Giddey’s contract is in no way terrible value. Anyway, McDaniels is the more valuable and impactful player. As a result, getting McDaniels is a little more than Giddey for something every year a bargain for Minnesota.
McDaniels is much more valuable than Giddey
In his first season with the Bulls, Giddey had an average of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists on 46.5/37.8/78.1 shooting splits. These are without a doubt impressive figures. However, there is real uncertainty about how Giddey would fit a championship team. He is clearly not a first or even second option in an elite team. The Oklahoma City Thunder in particular exchanged Giddey in the low season of 2024 and they succeeded this by winning the championship. During the Play -offs from 2024, Giddey was played off the floor because of his bad shooting.
Perhaps the improvements of Giddey as a shooter are real last year, because he resulted in a career-high 37.8 percent of his shots from outside the arch. However, it is just as likely that it was an out of a good season. Moreover, Giddey is struggling to play off-ball, and there is a clear ceiling for your team if Giddey is one of your best players. Despite its 6-foot-8 frame, Giddey is an insufficient defender.
While his averages of 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2 assists on 47.7/33/81.3 Shooting splits do not jump off the page, McDaniels is a more impactful player than Giddey. This is largely due to the defense at elite level. McDaniels can get stars out of the game and is very disturbing from the ball. Undoubtedly, he is better than Giddey about defense, who struggles both on and outside the ball.
Offensive, McDaniels is nowhere near the level of Giddey as a playmaker. Despite inconsistent shooting, however, McDaniels is a more impactful off-ball player considering his capacities as a cutter and screener. McDaniels is also a much more efficient scorer on the edge. During his career, the impact of McDaniels on winning was clear. Ultimately, McDaniels is the more malleable and impactful roll player.
Of course, Giddey is two years younger than McDaniels, and he could still improve. From now on, however, McDaniels is the better player, and this archetype usually has more success in the NBA. Again, it was by no means the wrong decision for the Bulls to sign Giddey with this deal. Still, a year later and especially after this deal, the McDaniels contract starts to look like a stem.
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