Bulls predicted to make $80 million Josh Giddey decision with a twist
The Chicago Bulls have been focused on one thing all offseason, and the conclusion could be quite anticlimactic.
This summer, the Bulls have been looking toward the future. Inking Billy Donovan to an extension and adding Noa Essengue in the draft, the Bulls appear to be entering a new era, looking to develop their young talent and get out of the mediocrity they’ve been stuck in for nearly a decade.
However, the Bulls’ struggles over the past several years have been on full display this offseason. With Josh Giddey’s restricted free agency still holding things up in September, the Bulls might need to make a decision quickly so they can turn their focus toward the upcoming season.
Giddey will be back, but for how much?
Throughout the offseason, there has been seemingly no discussions around the league about Giddey making his way to a new team. Considering Giddey has a $30 million asking price, and the Bulls likely being unwilling to lose him after how poorly the Alex Caruso swap has aged in Chicago, the Australian will be in the Windy City in 2025-26.
In a recent article from Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, he predicted that Giddey’s best option would simply be to take the four-year, $80 million option that has been on the table throughout the summer, especially if Chicago gives him a player option on the final year of the deal.
Although Giddey is a polarizing player, and his ability to contribute to any title-contending team is questionable at best, the Bulls aren’t a contender, and getting Giddey for $20 million a year isn’t all that bad, considering his counting stats.
AFC Notes: J.K. Dobbins, Bo Nix, Broncos, Chargers
Broncos
Bo Nix is entering the second year of his career after his breakout rookie campaign in 2024. Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning is confident Nix is “made of the right stuff” to continue being a highly successful quarterback.
“Bo is made of the right stuff. He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way. And all of it should help as he moves forward in his career,” Manning said, via Troy Renck of the Denver Post. “I am just happy that Bo is the established starter. For a number of years, they had quarterback competitions. That’s hard on the receivers, the coaches, the play-caller, and the quarterback. Now, they’ve got their guy.”
Manning thinks Nix showed talent beyond his years as a rookie.
“I just don’t see that as being a big factor for him. Rookie quarterbacks are supposed to struggle, and then the game slows down. But, it sure looked like it slowed down a lot for him last year,” Manning said. “Like with C.J. Stroud, Bo didn’t play like a rookie. … I believe experience is the best teacher, and he got great experience last year.”
Manning added that playing under Sean Payton for a second season should be beneficial for Nix.
“The continuity, more than anything else. There are times when guys go into their second year, and they are going on their third coordinator,” Manning said. “He has an experienced head coach in Sean, who is his play-caller. Having that same voice and verbiage is so critical. We expect Sean to be here for a long time, so Bo will use that to his advantage.”
Broncos
Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins had a resurgence in his career after missing 2022 with a knee injury and 2023 with a torn Achilles. His surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, said he grew a close relationship with Dobbins and praised him for his perseverance.
“I can’t say enough about him,” ElAttrache said, via Luca Evans of The Denver Post. “I mean, he’s the kind of guy that I would like to have as a friend forever. He’s that kind of person.”
ElAttrache pointed out that damaged ligaments can never return to their previous health, but Dobbins has worked hard on his rehab.
“You never want to expect they’re going to be 22 years old again,” ElAttrache said. “You can’t turn back the clock and go before, when he was that number one (running back) for the Ravens. But, having said that, his performance was still right there.”
Chargers
Chargers DC Jesse Minter still holds on to rejection letters from graduate assistant jobs that he applied to across the country, accumulating 98 in total. Minter said the rejections are a reminder to be grateful for where he is now.
“Because that’s just how I operate,” Minter said, via Daniel Popper of The Athletic. “It’s just that reminder of the joy that it is, the blessing that it is, the opportunity that you have, not to take it for granted and not to ever feel like you’ve arrived.”
Minter said he’s always tried to operate without an ego and build a culture of letting people know their value.
“A lot of coaches have crazy egos, and I think there’s a difference in being confident in yourself and sure of yourself, and then having an ego,” Minter said. “I’ve always tried really, really hard to not have an ego, to really try to build a situation where everybody feels like they have value, where everybody feels like they’re part of the success.”
- Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Chargers RB Najee Harris participated in three-straight practices last week and was cleared for contact on Friday.
