Basketball is played on two ends of the floor. There’s offense, and there’s defense. The best teams in the NBA typically thrive on both ends.
Still, if you’re going to double down on either end, you probably want to do it on offense. The modern NBA is full of players and teams who can put the ball in the basket. Take the Sacramento Kings. They’re light on stopping power, but they had the best offense in the NBA in 2022-23.
That formula carried them far – in the regular season. In the playoffs, their inability to get a stop held them back. The Kings were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Next season, they’ll look to advance further. Could they acquire Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls to bolster their defense?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: G Davion Mitchell, G/F Chris Duarte, 2026 First-Round Pick (Swap – SAC)
Sacramento Kings Receive: G Alex Caruso
Of course, no informed person would dispute that defense is important. With that said, there’s plenty of dispute about how an elite defense is built.
Traditionally, it’s been built on the interior. Having a rim protector who can deny dunk and lay-up attempts has been a reliable method of building an elite NBA defense. By that measure, the Kings could be in trouble. Domantas Sabonis is a dynamic offensive player, but he’s no rim protector.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Sacramento Kings Updates
With that said, modern NBA offenses emphasize perimeter shooting. Some would argue that, as a result, an elite defense starts at the perimeter. If that’s true, perhaps a weak interior defender can be covered for. Does Caruso do enough to cover the Kings?
Why The Sacramento Kings Do The Deal
Meanwhile, even perimeter defenders can be divided into two camps. You’ve got point-of-attack defenders in the backcourt. On the other hand, frontcourt defenders are expected to be versatile. In the modern game, good defensive wings can guard multiple positions.
Unless you’re talking about Alex Caruso. He’s an exception to the rule. Caruso is an elite point-of-attack defender, but he can also guard up. All told, he’s one of the very best defenders in the NBA.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Sacramento Kings Updates
That’s why this deal is a no-brainer for Sacramento. Last season was a success for this organization, but next year, the bar will be raised. Another first-round exit would be a failure. With that in mind, acquiring one of the best defensive players in the league ought to minimize the likelihood of that happening. Should the Bulls part with such a stout defender?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
Caruso or not, it doesn’t matter: the Bulls won’t be competing for an NBA title next season. Unlike the Kings, their 2022-23 season was a failure. This team didn’t even qualify for the playoffs.
Will the Bulls rebuild? Time will tell. There’s been speculation that they’d prefer not to. With that said, sometimes, we’ve got to do things that we don’t want to do. It seems reasonable to say that the Bulls would benefit from starting over.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Sacramento Kings Updates
If they agree, this deal makes sense. Mitchell is a great point-of-attack defender in his own right, even if he’s too small to be as versatile as Caruso. Duarte is a solid movement shooter with some room to improve. Throw in a future pick swap, and this might force the Bulls to part with one of the best defenders in the NBA.
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