The Chicago Bulls are reportedly expected to speak with Josh Giddey regarding a potential contract extension, per Shams Charania of ESPN during an appearance on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast (20-minute mark).

“He’s someone that I think the Bulls will engage with,” Charania said.

“They made that trade, trading away Alex Caruso for him. So they clearly value him to an extent. But what does he want? What is his mentality on the marketplace? And what do they want to give?”

Giddey, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract after having his 2022-23 and 2023-24 team options picked up. He landed in Chicago after the Bulls acquired him from the Oklahoma City Thunder last June for guard Alex Caruso.

As noted by John Schuhmann of NBA.com, all players selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft who reached the end of their rookie deals are eligible for contract extensions until Oct. 21. If one isn’t settled by then, those players will enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2025.

Giddey, 22, averaged 12.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting (33.7 percent from three), 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists last year. He started all 80 games, averaging 25.1 minutes per game.

However, Giddey’s playing time significantly decreased in the playoffs, to the point where he even hit the bench for two of 10 games. Giddey averaged 12.5 minutes per game in the second round against the Dallas Mavericks.

After the season, the Thunder approached Giddey about coming off the bench in the future, but that understandably was not something he was enthused about doing after starting the previous three years. So a trade was worked out, and Giddey ended up with the Bulls.

In Chicago, Giddey will be the starting point guard alongside Coby White in the backcourt. He’s played three preseason games thus far for the Bulls, averaging 11.3 points on 40.0 percent shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 22.5 minutes per game.

Chicago has two more preseason games remaining (at home versus the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday and against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday). The Bulls then start the regular season on Oct. 23 at the New Orleans Pelicans.