It’s been said that in the NBA, defense wins championships. Perhaps that’s an overstatement. Two-way teams tend to win championships. Still, nobody should sell defense short. You need to be able to get stops if you’re going to go all the way.
Meanwhile, there’s debate about how to best build an NBA defense. At this point, most would agree that the simplest way to build an elite defense is to stack quality frontcourt defenders. A rim protector surrounded by versatile defensive forwards is the most effective, simple way to build an elite defense.
Unless you’re Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls. Last season, Caruso just had one of the best defensive seasons from a guard in NBA history. He’s arguably the best defensive guard in the NBA. Could the Bulls send him to the Los Angeles Clippers this summer?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Robert Covington, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAC)
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: G/F Alex Caruso
With that said, that wasn’t always the model for an NBA defense. Sure, rim protection has always been seen as important. That’s intuitively obvious – taking away dunks and layups will always be a defense’s first priority. What’s the next priority?
For a while, point-of-attack defense was typically the priority. Locking down your man in one-on-one defense was seen as the best way to get stops. In recent years, that has changed. Partly due to a rule change that disallowed hand-checking, team defense has taken priority over individual defense.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Los Angeles Clippers & Chicago Bulls Updates
So, teams load up on versatile wings. A player that can guard across positions helps a team set up their defense. If you’ve got multiple players with ability, you’re likely to be even harder to score on. Should the Clippers give up a versatile defensive wing in Covington?
Why The Los Angeles Clippers Do The Deal
If any team has ever proven that you can have too many defensive wings, it would be the Clippers. They could hardly find time for Covington in last year’s rotation. With that in mind, moving on from the potentially disgruntled forward has its own benefit.
Of course, that’s not the main reason that the Clippers would do this deal. They’re landing Alex Caruso. He’s the best defensive wing in the NBA. With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Nic Batum and Ivica Zubac on the roster, adding Caruso could give the Clippers the best defense in the entire NBA.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Los Angeles Clippers & Chicago Bulls Updates
Losing Covington is a non-issue. By contrast, parting with a first-round pick is risky. Still, it’s an easy price to pay if the Clippers don’t plan on rebuilding. They could be building a dominant defense that will help them contend for the NBA title. Should the Bulls help them build it?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Clippers may not be rebuilding. The Bulls should be. This team had a miserable 2022-23 season. Unlike the Clippers, they don’t have the excuse of injuries to lean on. The Bulls were healthy – they just weren’t good.
Caruso’s elite defense won’t change that. He’s more of a ceiling-raiser than a floor-raiser. As strong as he is on the defensive end, he can’t lead a team to win on his own. Typically, it takes a dominant offensive player to do that.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Los Angeles Clippers & Chicago Bulls Updates
So, if the Bulls are rebuilding, they should move Caruso. Given his offensive limitations, a first-round pick will be roughly his market value. If the Clippers want to give one up, the Bulls should take it. Defense may win championships, but they’re not going to win one anyway.
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