Analysis of Alex Caruso Trade between Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls
The 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.
Caruso's contract is an advantage for Oklahoma City. Caruso earns roughly $1.5 million more than Giddey next season. Both players are on expiring deals, which could provide Oklahoma City with significant flexibility. The Thunder benefit from having their second- and third-best players still on rookie contracts, creating more than $30 million in cap space to address team needs, such as rebounding issues.
To further enhance their roster, the Thunder could look into 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. Complementing this defense is Chet Holmgren, who ranked third in contested shots per game last season and provides Oklahoma City with a superior defensive unit compared to recent champions like the Boston Celtics.
Oklahoma City's general manager, Sam Presti, has transformed a potential problem into a significant asset. The strategic maneuvering of trading a player they could no longer utilize effectively and acquiring one highly coveted across the league certainly looks like an "Executive of the Year" level move.
The 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.
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 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. The decision to trade for Giddey instead of waiting for other offers for Caruso adds another layer of complexity. Multiple first-round picks and a top-10 pick were reportedly offered 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 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
The trade between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls showcases contrasting strategies and expectations. For the Thunder, acquiring Alex Caruso strengthens their already formidable defense and adds valuable experience. Conversely, the Bulls' acquisition of Josh Giddey is more of a gamble, dependent on significant roster adjustments and development. Both teams face challenges and opportunities as they navigate the remainder of the season and beyond.
