Josh Giddey’s contract is settled. Chicago’s next test is making his offence scale

Josh Giddey enters September with his long-term place in Chicago secure and his return from right-ankle surgery on schedule. The unresolved question is how the Bulls turn his passing and rebounding value into dependable halfcourt scoring that opponents must respect.

The uncertainty has changed Josh Giddey is no longer approaching the 2026-27 season as a player whose contract status could define Chicago’s planning. His four-year, US$100 million deal runs through 2028-29, with US$25 million scheduled for the coming season and the remaining money fully guaranteed. That makes him the Bulls’ largest 2026-27 cap hit, according to contract databases tracking the league’s payrolls. (nba.com)

The financial commitment matters because it changes the evaluation. Chicago is not deciding whether Giddey is worth retaining; it is deciding how much offensive responsibility should sit with him, and which types of line-ups can make that responsibility productive. The contract is a vote of confidence in his overall value, not proof that every part of his offensive game is solved.

A productive lead playmaker, with one obvious pressure point The statistical base is substantial. The NBA lists Giddey’s 2025-26 averages at 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. Those numbers describe a high-involvement initiator: he can advance the ball, create advantages with his size and pass over the top of a defence, while also contributing as a defensive rebounder. (cdn-uat.nba.com)

But all-around production does not automatically create halfcourt pressure. For Giddey to function as the lead guard on a serious offence, defenders must be punished for going under screens, helping off him or crowding Chicago’s other creators. His next development target is therefore less about adding another category to the box score and more about making his existing playmaking harder to contain.

That means reliable pull-up shooting, quicker decisions against a sagging defender and enough three-point volume to alter defensive spacing even on possessions when he does not receive the ball. This is an analytical inference from his role and roster value rather than a reported change in his programme.

The ankle makes the timing important Giddey’s immediate priority is still availability. The Bulls announced on May 13, 2026, that he had undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle. The team said he would be sidelined from basketball activities for approximately three months and expected him to return for the start of training camp. The Associated Press independently reported the same timetable while noting that hamstring and ankle problems had restricted him to 54 games in 2025-26. (nba.com)

That schedule places the focus of the final offseason stretch on progression rather than public declarations. A return to camp would be an important checkpoint, but it would not answer whether Giddey can immediately carry a larger halfcourt burden. Conditioning, lateral movement and comfort changing direction will shape how aggressively Chicago can use him early in the season.

Chicago needs the fit to do some work The Bulls’ roster is also being reshaped around a younger backcourt and more shooting-oriented support. Chicago’s official 2025-26 season review records the February additions of Collin Sexton and Jaden Ivey, while the NBA’s offseason reporting notes the arrival of veteran scorer Norman Powell and the selection of Caleb Wilson in the 2026 draft. (api-hub.nba.com)

Those moves could help Giddey, provided they clarify rather than dilute his role. More downhill threats and credible perimeter options can give him easier passing reads and reduce the number of possessions in which he must manufacture an advantage from a static start. Conversely, if the spacing remains inconsistent, opponents can continue to test his jumper and force Chicago into late-clock creation.

That is why the coming season should be judged on more than whether Giddey repeats his rebounding and assist totals. With his contract secured and his ankle expected to be ready for camp, the meaningful question is whether Chicago can make his passing a multiplier rather than a substitute for halfcourt scoring. The answer will determine how much value the Bulls extract from their largest financial commitment — and whether Giddey’s next step is statistical or structural.

Sources Bulls re-sign Josh Giddey to multi-year deal | NBA.com Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) undergoes arthroscopic surgery | NBA.com JOSH GIDDEY MEDICAL UPDATE | Chicago Bulls Bulls, Norman Powell agree to 2-year deal | NBA.com Bulls re-sign Josh Giddey to multi-year deal Josh Giddey medical update Bulls guard Josh Giddey undergoes arthroscopic surgery Josh Giddey NBA player profile 2025-26 Chicago Bulls season review