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Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls reacts against the Detroit Pistons.

Josh Giddey and his contract situation are a major item on the Chicago Bulls’ offseason list, but the former Oklahoma City Thunder star took a moment to show support for the star of his former team’s current opponent, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.

Haliburton was playing through a calf injury already. He suffered a non-contact injury that many fear will be deemed a torn Achilles.

“Hali [sad face emojis],” Giddey posted on X after Haliburton’s injury on June 22.

“Injury Update: Tyrese Haliburton (right lower leg injury) will not return to tonight’s game,” the Pacers posted on X with Haliburton in the team’s locker room.

He joins an unfortunate group of high-caliber players.

“If Haliburton did indeed tear his Achilles, that would be the 8th Achilles tear of the season,” In Street Clothes’ Jeff Stots posted on X on June 22. “The previous high was 5 (14-15). The total doesn’t include Thanasis Antetokounmpo who tore his in the offseason or prospect Jalon Moore who was injured in a recent pre-draft workout.”

For Giddey and the Bulls, that same trend could create an unexpected window of opportunity in the Eastern Conference.

Bulls Could Benefit From Pacers’ Misfortune

Haliburton’s injury could cost him most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season. Giddey and the Bulls could capitalize on that, as well as the identical injuries suffered by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bulls were 17-28 against winning teams in 2024-25, which all of the affected squads were.

The Bulls still have plenty of their own business to sort through this offseason. But how those three teams operate could be very informative for the playoff picture in 2025-26.

Giddey and the Bulls would still need to overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, who could boast the most continuity heading into next season. But it is not unrealistic for Giddey and the Bulls to make a move into the top six teams.

They finished the regular season 5.0 games back of the Pistons for the sixth seed.

Josh Giddey Looms Large Over Bulls

Giddey is heading for restricted free agency after his season with the Bulls. All indications are that the Bulls will do what it takes to retain him.

That could include a salary worth up to $30-plus million annually.

“The Bulls, of course, have their own prominent restricted free agent to re-sign in Josh Giddey, who is known to be seeking a starter-level annual salary after his strong second-half play,” The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer wrote on June 21.

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas touted that same second-half stretch from Giddey.

“I think when we’re targeting him in trade last year, I think with our style of play and how we’re going to be playing this year, I think with that in mind, I thought that when he came in and try to fit in, and how we started the year, he was looking how he can impact the game and, obviously, new teammates,” Karnisovas told reporters in April.

“Following All-Star weekend, I think he just found completely new gear and averaged 21, 11, and 9. He actually rebounded better than Vooch [Nikola Vučević], which is hard to do. So, he found a niche, he found a belief in himself. Obviously, this group, they found another gear. Whether that being Coby [White], Josh, even Matas [Buzelis] with his new role. So, I think he [Giddey] fits really well here, and I hope to see him here for … years to come.”

Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter