Some NBA players are difficult to build around. They may also be talented enough to make those difficulties worthwhile. Often, we’re talking about star players with glaring flaws. Perhaps a player can dominate on the offensive end of the floor, but they struggle on the other side.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a perfect example. He’s one of the best offensive big men in NBA history. Unfortunately, he offers little on the defensive end of the floor.
The Wolves tried to mitigate those concerns by trading for Rudy Gobert last summer. Putting Towns on the perimeter brought about it’s own issues. If they’re going to stick with their big man duo, they may want acquire an elite perimeter stopper. How about Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls receive: F Kyle Anderson, 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – MIN), 2030 First-Round Pick (Swap – MIN)
Minnesota Timberwolves receive: G Alex Caruso
On the other hand, building an NBA team is generally difficult. There are factors that are difficult to predict. For example, you may put together a team that’s designed to overwhelm opponents on the offensive end. If the pieces don’t fit, they may not be able to accomplish that goal.
Just look at the Bulls. With Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic on the roster, they were supposed to be dominant on offense. They weren’t. Instead, the Bulls were surprisingly solid on defense.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Minnesota Timberwolves & Chicago Bulls Updates
It was a moot point. The Bulls had a generally disappointing 2022-23 season. Now, they’re widely expected to make changes this summer. Would this be a good change?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
Well, losing Caruso won’t do their defense any favors. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. That’s not the point here. Neither is acquiring Kyle Anderson – although, he’s a solid forward with a wide range of skills. The Bulls could look to move him at this year’s trade deadline.
After all, the purpose of this deal for Chicago is to rebuild. If they make this move, we’re willing to assume they’ve also moved DeRozan – if not LaVine as well.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Minnesota Timberwolves & Chicago Bulls Updates
In that event, flipping Caruso for a pair of distant pick swaps is logical. If the Bulls are able to smartly rebuild, those swaps could be very advantageous in a few years. Should the Wolves put them in that position?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
This trade leaves the Wolves with one of the worst draft situations in the entire NBA. That’s fine. If that’s a concern for the Wolves, they need to trade Towns. Otherwise, they won’t be able to recoup the draft capital they spent on Rudy Gobert without trading Anthony Edwards – which should be unthinkable.
So, the Wolves have forced themselves into this position. They might as well go all-in. What’s another pair of pick swaps when they’re already this low on draft capital?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Minnesota Timberwolves & Chicago Bulls Updates
By that logic, Caruso is the perfect acquisition. With him handling the point of attack and Gobert on the interior, Towns’ defense may become a moot point. In other words, he might become easier to build around.
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