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Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-winning three pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Amid the Chicago Bulls’ staring contest with their restricted free agent Josh Giddey, a Western Conference team in the same predicament is monitoring the situation.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Golden State Warriors, who are also in a standoff with their restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, have “expressed” interest in the Bulls’ lead guard.

“Golden State would be interested, depending on how the machinations could go in some type of Josh Giddey-Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade,” Fischer reported on Bleacher Report’s “NBA Insider Notebook” livestreamed on Aug. 7.

Fischer added that the Warriors’ interest in Giddey dated back to the 2021 NBA draft.

“To my understanding, the Warriors were prepared on draft night way back in 2021 for Jonathan Kuminga to go no. 6 to Oklahoma City and they were ready to take Josh Giddey at no. 7,” Fischer said.

But the Thunder picked Giddey and the Warriors ended up with Kuminga, who never found his footing in coach Steve Kerr’s system.

Josh Giddey’s Breakout Season Attracts Rival Teams

The pass-first Giddey would have a better chance of thriving under Kerr.

Giddey, whom the Bulls landed in a one-on-one trade for Alex Caruso, a former Warriors’ trade target, flourished last season in Chicago.

The Australian point guard averaged a career-high 7.2 assists to go with 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He also shot a career-best 37.8% from the 3-point line, which has been his weakest link since he entered the NBA and factored in the Thunder’s decision to trade him.

Giddey’s breakout season made the Warriors, among other teams, more interested in the 6-foot-8 point guard.

“I can report that there have been multiple teams that have reached out to Josh Giddey’s representation about their interest. Golden State is one of them,” Fischer said.

Will Giddey’s standoff with the Bulls lead to his abrupt departure from the Windy City?

Giddey has been looking for $30 million in annual salary, according to Fischer, but the Bulls have only discussed an offer with $20 million per year.

However, Fischer also noted that the Bulls have been telling league personnel since the NBA Draft Combine in June that they love Giddey and want to bring him back.

Bulls, Giddey Expected to Reach 3-Year Deal

But according to NBA Insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, both the Bulls and Giddey’s camp are nearing a resolution that will keep the rising star in Chicago.

“Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls are expected to reach a resolution on a new contract, likely in the three-year range, by the end of August,” Siegel reported. “The Bulls could increase their offer, but they have stood firm on keeping a new deal in the $20 million AAV range. The latest speculation from agents not involved in negotiations suggests something in the $65 million to $70 million range.”

An anonymous Bulls front office executive recently told Keith Smith of Spotrac that they are hell-bent on keeping their best point guard since Derrick Rose.

“We want to get a deal done with Josh,” the executive told Smith. “He’s as important of a player as we have. We see him as a foundational player for us. I hope we can find a deal that makes sense for us and him and that we’ll be together for a long time.”

They’d better do or Giddey could force his way to join Steph Curry in his title pursuit next season.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo