Alex Caruso's professional basketball journey began 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 in the NBA with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. In a surprising turn of events, 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. Moreover, 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. Caruso's contract is also an advantage for Oklahoma City. Although Caruso earns roughly $1.5 million more than Giddey next season, both players are on expiring deals. The Thunder benefit from having their second- and third-best players still on rookie contracts, potentially creating more than $30 million in cap space.
This financial flexibility allows the Thunder to address their rebounding issues by potentially signing a player like Isaiah Hartenstein or re-signing Isaiah Joe to a long-term deal. 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.
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. The Thunder managed to trade a player they could no longer utilize effectively and acquired one highly coveted across the league, bolstering their already formidable defense.
Chicago Bulls: An Uncertain Future
The trade presents a different picture for the Chicago Bulls, earning them a generous C- grade. Josh Giddey, one of the top ten passers in the league and a good scorer inside the arc, joins a roster that already includes two established stars in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. 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. His success, however, 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 leave. Additionally, 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. The decision to trade for Giddey instead of waiting for other offers for Caruso was a calculated risk. Multiple first-round picks, and a top-10 pick were reportedly offered for Caruso. Giddey, who has improved his shooting each season, made 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.
Conclusion
While Oklahoma City’s acquisition of Alex Caruso seems like a masterstroke, reinforcing their already stellar defense, the Chicago Bulls face an uncertain future with the introduction of Josh Giddey. The Thunder appear to have strategically positioned themselves for success both on the court and in terms of financial flexibility. Meanwhile, the Bulls must carefully navigate their roster and long-term strategy to fully realize the potential Giddey brings to the team. Both teams have pivoted their futures with this trade, but only time will reveal the full impact of these moves.
