Oklahoma City Thunder
Alex Caruso began his professional basketball journey with the Oklahoma City Thunder, not at the NBA level, but with their G-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, after going undrafted in 2016. Caruso's career has since flourished at the NBA level with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. On Thursday, the Thunder brought Caruso back to Oklahoma City in a trade with the Bulls, sending Josh Giddey to Chicago.
Caruso is highly sought after for his defensive prowess and his capabilities as a connective passer. He has effectively defended superstars like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Additionally, Caruso is a steadily improving three-point shooter, hitting nearly 41% of his attempts last season. The Thunder’s acquisition of Caruso strengthens their already impressive defense, which ranked fourth in the NBA last season.
Strategic Acquisition
Caruso's contract is an advantage for Oklahoma City. He earns roughly $1.5 million more than Giddey next season, but both players are on expiring deals. The Thunder benefit from having their second- and third-best players still on rookie contracts, a situation that could create more than $30 million in cap space next season. This financial flexibility allows the Thunder to address other needs, such as rebounding, by potentially signing a player like Isaiah Hartenstein or re-signing Isaiah Joe to a long-term deal.
Defensive Backbone
Caruso joins a solid defensive lineup that includes Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams. Chet Holmgren's performance last season, where he ranked third in contested shots per game, complements an arguably superior defense compared to recent champions like the Boston Celtics. The Thunder managed to trade a player they could no longer utilize effectively and acquired one who is highly coveted across the league. Oklahoma City's general manager, Sam Presti, has transformed a potential problem into a significant asset, highlighting his strategic prowess.
This strategic maneuvering certainly looks like an "Executive of the Year" level move, as the Thunder continue to build a team that could compete at the highest levels in the coming seasons.
Chicago Bulls
The trade presents a different picture for the Chicago Bulls, earning them a generous C- grade. Josh Giddey is one of the top ten passers in the league and a good scorer inside the arc. However, Giddey's overall fit with the Bulls remains uncertain. He is among the nine players who have posted at least 10 triple-doubles over the past three seasons, indicating his versatile skill set. However, his success heavily depends on controlling the offense, a scenario that currently seems unlikely in Chicago without significant roster adjustments.
Future Considerations
For Giddey to thrive, the Bulls would need to unload Zach LaVine's hefty contract and potentially let DeMar DeRozan leave. The team’s current spacing issues need considerable upgrades to fully leverage Giddey's abilities. Collaboration with Coby White in ball-handling roles could be beneficial but demands intentional development. Chicago decided to trade for Giddey instead of waiting for other offers for Caruso, despite reports that multiple first-round picks and a top-10 pick were offered for Caruso.
Rebuilding Process
Giddey has improved his shooting each season, making around 34% on 3-pointers last year. However, his low volume signals that there's still work to do. In the short term, the Bulls' trade makes them a worse team as they work to integrate Giddey and possibly rebuild around him. Chicago owes a top-10 protected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the San Antonio Spurs, complicating their immediate future. If the Bulls strategically set themselves up for a rough season to keep their 2025 pick, it could provide access to next year’s elite prospects and potentially accelerate their rebuilding process.
Caruso's exit was almost a given for the Bulls, considering their place as a Play-In team. The long-term success of this trade for Chicago hinges on their ability to configure the team well enough to center around Giddey's skills effectively. While the immediate outlook may be grim, there remains a glimmer of hope that this strategic move could pay off in the long run if executed correctly.
Quotes
"Executive of the Year" level move.