Part of building a winning NBA team is building a winning culture. Of course, you also need elite talent. Sometimes, those priorities can be at odds. When a team tanks to acquire top talent, it can hurt their culture. Is the damage irreversible?
The Houston Rockets are certainly hoping not. This summer, the team has taken extreme measures to fix their culture. The Rockets arguably overpaid for Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. They signed Jock Landale. All of these guys are hard-nosed players who should have a positive impact on the team’s culture (Brooks’ potential antics aside).
Are the Rockets done? Potentially. They ought to be a much more competitive team next season. On the other hand, the Rockets still have the assets to make trades throughout the season. Could they make a move for Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Jae’Sean Tate, 2025 First-Round Pick (HOU or BKN)
Houston Rockets Receive: G Alex Caruso
Culture is important, but talent comes first. For a long time, the Rockets had ample talent. Behind James Harden, they were in the mix for the NBA championship for a long time. Their decision to trade Harden for effectively nothing but draft capital was a bold one. The Rockets didn’t get any meaningful talent in return for Harden.
What they did get was control of the Brooklyn Nets’ draft through to 2027. At the time, that didn’t matter to the Nets. They had a patently absurd amount of talent. The Nets were bringing James Harden onto a team that featured Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. In the end, it was the shortest lived superteam in NBA history.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Houston Rockets Updates
What happened? You could argue that the Nets suffered from a poor culture. Put the blame wherever you choose. Irving wouldn’t take the vaccine, and Harden wouldn’t live with it. Either way, the Nets fell apart quickly. Should the Rockets really part with one of their picks?
Why The Houston Rockets Do The Deal
In measuring the return that the Rockets got for Harden, you’ve ultimately got to keep track of what they’ve done with those Brooklyn picks. So far, they’ve turned one into Tari Eason. That’s a good start. What if the return was Eason and Alex Caruso?
Well, that’s not enough for a player who, at the time, was an in-prime MVP candidate. That’s fine. The Rockets would still have two first-round picks and a swap left from the Harden trade if they made this deal. Meanwhile, Caruso would be a huge addition to this roster. He’s arguably the best defensive guard in the entire NBA.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Houston Rockets Updates
Is he a perfect fit? Not necessarily. This deal could lead the Rockets to ask themselves some hard questions about Kevin Porter Jr. On the other hand, they may be asking themselves those questions anyway. By contrast, Caruso would be a perfect backup to Jalen Green who can also man the 1 or the 3 as a super sub. Should the Bulls give up such a valuable player?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Rockets may be a team on the rise. On the other hand, the Bulls feel like they’re on a downward swing. The 2022-23 season was a rough one for this organization. Now, there’s widespread speculation that they could rebuild.
They should. Meanwhile, Caruso is older than you think. He was late getting to the NBA. His NBA usefulness may extend for another few years, but he’s not a suitable player to be part of a long-term rebuild. If the Bulls are undergoing one, they should move him.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls & Houston Rockets Updates
On a related note: the Bulls should undergo a long-term rebuild. This team should be prioritizing draft capital among all else. Here, they’re getting a first-round pick, and a player on a team-friendly contract in Tate. If nothing else, he’s an effortful player who can help them develop a new team culture.
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