Best Josh Giddey trade destinations after disappointing Thunder season

The Oklahoma City Thunder shocked the world by clinching the number one seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the 2023-24 regular season. They opened the playoffs with a 4-0 sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans, but they suffered a disappointing 4-2 loss at the hands of Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals. There were several issues that flared up in this series for the Thunder, and perhaps the most glaring of them all was the play of Josh Giddey.

Giddey was borderline unplayable against the Mavs, and despite the fact he’s been a starter since day one in his NBA career, his head coach Mark Daigneault made a big adjustment in this series by sliding Giddey to the bench in favor of Isaiah Joe in Game 5 of this series. Giddey is known to be a guy who struggles shooting the three-ball, but his inability to contribute in any other area of the game resulted in him hitting the bench, and in the process, it has thrown his future with the team up in the air.

Trade rumors have immediately started swirling around Giddey now that the Thunder’s season is over, and he very well could end up being on the move this offseason. If that ends up being the case, let’s take a look at the three best trade destinations for the young Australian guard.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are one franchise that needs a consistent ball handler to run their offense. Tyus Jones is an unrestricted free agent, was that guy this past season, but he’s set for free agency, and there’s a decent chance he will leave Washington for greener pastures. If the Wizards lose Jones in free agency, Giddey could be a serviceable replacement as a starter in Washington’s backcourt.

Giddey has a ton of potential, but it seems like needs a fresh start in a place where he doesn’t have too much pressure on his shoulders. Washington is in the middle of a rebuild, so Giddey could get plenty of time on the floor as their offensive leader at the point guard position. Since the Wizards are likely focusing on building around Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma, they will need a guard who is excellent at dishing the rock, and Giddey fits the billing.

Utah Jazz