Oklahoma City Thunder: A Strategic Power Move
Alex Caruso began his professional basketball journey with the Oklahoma City Thunder's G-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, after going undrafted in 2016. Caruso's career has since flourished at the NBA level, featuring significant stints with both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls. In a recent move that has grabbed attention across the league, 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. Over his career, he has effectively defended superstars like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Last season, Caruso showed notable improvement as a three-point shooter, hitting nearly 41% of his attempts. The Thunder’s acquisition of Caruso strengthens their already impressive defense, which ranked fourth in the NBA last season.
Caruso's Impact and Contract Advantage
One of the reasons Caruso's acquisition is so strategic is his contract, which is more favorable for Oklahoma City. Caruso earns roughly $1.5 million more than Giddey next season, and both players are on expiring deals. The Thunder benefit from having their second- and third-best players still on rookie contracts, setting themselves up potentially to create more than $30 million in cap space.
This flexibility allows the Thunder to address some of their roster's needs, such as rebounding. Possible solutions include signing a player like Isaiah Hartenstein or re-signing Isaiah Joe to a long-term deal. Caruso now joins a solid defensive lineup that includes Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams. Chet Holmgren's performance last season, ranking third in contested shots per game, complements what could be a superior defense even compared to recent champions like the Boston Celtics.
In essence, 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. This strategic maneuvering certainly looks like an "Executive of the Year" level move.
Chicago Bulls: A Mixed Bag with Uncertain Returns
The trade presents a different picture for the Chicago Bulls, who earn a generous C- grade for their side of the deal. 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.
Giddey is among the nine players who have posted at least 10 triple-doubles over the past three seasons. However, his success heavily depends on controlling the offense, a scenario that currently seems unlikely in Chicago without significant roster adjustments. For Giddey to thrive, the Bulls would need to unload Zach LaVine's hefty contract and potentially let DeMar DeRozan go. The team’s existing spacing issues need considerable upgrades to fully leverage Giddey's abilities.
Challenges and Potential
The Bulls decided to trade for Giddey instead of waiting for other offers for Caruso. It's worth noting that multiple first-round picks, including a top-10 pick, were reportedly offered for Caruso. Giddey, while improving his shooting each season (around 34% on three-pointers last year), still has a low volume, indicating there's still work to be done.
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 stance 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.
Quotes
"Executive of the Year" level move.