The NBA offseason is just a few days outdated, however we’ve a giant commerce lower than per week earlier than the NBA Draft. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are buying Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls in alternate for Josh Giddey.
Alex Caruso as the primary domino to drop within the Bulls’ offseason may be very attention-grabbing. He was by far the group’s finest defender and impacted profitable probably the most. Buying and selling the 30-year-old, championship-winning Caruso for a 21-year-old Josh Giddey screams completely new path in Chicago.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) June 20, 2024
This can be a huge swing for the Thunder and a fairly attention-grabbing long-term play for a Bulls group that in all probability ought to discover one other means of placing collectively some constructing blocks. How does this commerce grade out? I’m so glad you requested that query. Let’s bust out the pink ink and slap a grade on this commerce for each groups.
Thunder purchase Alex Caruso
I can’t assist however assume the Boston Celtics profitable the title the best way we noticed impressed this acquisition by Oklahoma Metropolis.
Caruso is likely one of the finest defensive gamers within the league, no matter place. He was named first-team All-Protection in 2022-23 and second-team All-Protection this previous season. He additionally gained this 12 months’s Hustle Award, which I promise you is an actual award even when no person is aware of the way it’s decided or who has gained it previously.
On high of all that, Caruso can stretch the ground from deep. He made 40.8 % of his 3-pointers this previous season on a career-high 4.7 makes an attempt per recreation, and he’s a profession 38 % shooter on 2.6 makes an attempt per recreation. Dramatically rising his 3-point quantity didn’t negatively influence his share in any respect; it proved he’s able to let it fly extra typically. That’s the kind of participant the Celtics threw into their rotation all 12 months lengthy: guys who might defend their tails off on one finish and make you pay for a poor defensive rotation on the opposite. Contemplating the Thunder have already got Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, I believe it’s apparent how Boston’s fashion of play is being replicated. That’s the right kind of position participant for the Thunder so as to add earlier than they flip their focus to bringing a giant man into the combination.
With the ability to roll out Dort and Caruso on the perimeter is huge. Saving Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander from defending major choices as a lot retains two clutch gamers even brisker for the top of video games. Attempting to attain towards OKC was already troublesome, because the Thunder had been fourth in defensive score this previous season, however they struggled to comprise a number of the Dallas Mavericks’ choices within the playoffs. Giddey grew to become fairly unplayable in that collection, however Caruso gained’t be a sufferer of that kind of matchup. He may help the Thunder thrive.
Caruso is a free agent in 2025, however the Thunder need to really feel fairly assured they’ll preserve him round.
Grade: A
Bulls purchase Josh Giddey
The issue with the Bulls’ roster building is that they don’t have a whole lot of younger constructing blocks. Restricted free agent Patrick Williams is sweet however hasn’t blossomed the best way some hoped he would possibly after being chosen fourth within the 2020 draft. He’s additionally missed vital time in two of his 4 seasons. Coby White took a giant leap this previous season at 24 years outdated, however the Bulls want extra younger choices like him to maintain growing. Ayo Dosunmu is an efficient backup participant, and possibly Dalen Terry can flip into one thing, however Chicago wants some youth.
That’s why the acquisition of 21-year-old Giddey is a fairly good risk-reward kind of transfer. Possibly you’d prefer to see the Bulls get a bit extra for a veteran like Caruso, however Giddey can play. He’s a horrible outdoors shooter, however he can do most every thing else rather well. He’s a wonderful playmaker, which issues on a group that was one of many lowest help groups this previous season. We’ll see how the long run building of this group seems, however the Bulls want Giddey and Lonzo Ball to be wholesome and slinging the ball all around the courtroom.
With Caruso within the final 12 months of his deal, the Bulls are buying a younger participant nonetheless growing and who had a big, largely constructive influence on the highest seed within the Western Convention. Possibly it indicators that they are going to tear some issues down and restart (we nonetheless need to see whether or not they deliver again DeMar DeRozan in free company and what occurs with Zach LaVine). Restarting is one thing the Bulls have struggled to do general since Derrick Rose’s profession was derailed by accidents, however it’s the path they should take. With Giddey both agreeing to an extension with Chicago this fall or turning into a restricted free agent subsequent summer time, the Bulls can management his time with the group.
Grade: B
(Photograph of Josh Giddey and Coby White: Michael Reaves / Getty Pictures)
