Josh Giddey, the Chicago Bulls’ rising star, will soon be eligible for restricted free agency. So, what direction will the organization take with him? It is still unclear whether they would let him test the market and hope to match the price or go for an early extension on the back of his elite performances lately.

Giddey has been outstanding in his recent games, putting up double-doubles for fun. He has had one in six of his last seven games and was a rebound away from making it seven on the trot.

In 57 games, he has averaged 13.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals along with 45.5% shooting from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc.

He appears to be a player who could be central to the Bulls for years to come, if he stays consistent and they are able to agree on an extension with him.

The Bulls have been off the track for quite some time and appear to be in the middle of a rebuild, having parted with DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Zach LaVine over the past year.

Giddey could be one of the faces of the next generation of Bulls basketball, especially if he can improve defensively. But what kind of a contract could he receive if he hits the open market?

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Giddey said: “‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it.

‘”Every player in the league thinks about it, but I don’t let it impact what I do on the floor. I don’t come out here with any preconceived ideas of how I want to play or the numbers I want to put up to earn X amount of dollars or whatever it may be.”

In the summer, it had been claimed that Giddey was looking for a deal that would see him pocket a $30 million annual salary, but the negotiations were put on hold.

Given Giddey’s recent performances, a rethinking of their rebuilding strategy should be of the utmost importance. The Bulls might have stumbled upon a star.

Soon, the Bulls would need to make a crucial choice. Would it be too expensive and risky for the team’s long-term future to make such an offer in order to retain their starting point guard? Time shall tell.