Oklahoma City Thunder Acquire Alex Caruso in Trade with Chicago Bulls
Oklahoma City Thunder
Alex Caruso began his professional basketball journey not at the NBA level but 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 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's return is highly anticipated due to his defensive prowess and his capabilities as a connective passer. Over the years, Caruso has effectively defended superstars like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Additionally, Caruso has become 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. Caruso's contract is a particular advantage for Oklahoma City. While 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, possibly by 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 already formidable defense. This defensive squad could compare favorably even 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. This strategic maneuver certainly looks like an "Executive of the Year" level move.
Chicago Bulls
In contrast, the trade presents a different picture for the Chicago Bulls, who earned a generous C- grade for this move. 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. Over the past three seasons, Giddey is among the nine players who have posted at least 10 triple-doubles. His success heavily depends on controlling the offense, a scenario currently 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. 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 opted to trade for Giddey instead of waiting for other offers for Caruso. Reportedly, multiple first-round picks, including a top-10 pick, were on the table for Caruso. 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 configure themselves for a rough season to retain their 2025 pick, they could gain access to next year’s elite prospects, potentially accelerating their rebuilding process. Caruso's exit seemed almost inevitable for the Bulls, given their status as a Play-In team. The long-term success of this trade for Chicago hinges on their ability to build a team that can effectively center around Giddey's skills.
