Everyone has “the one that got away”. Even NBA teams may pine for a former player. In this league, sacrifice is necessary. Good players get traded out of necessity. With that said, a team can eventually miss a player – badly.
If they win a championship, it will ease the pain. Take the Los Angeles Lakers. This team once had Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and other players.
At the time, they were among the most promising young players in the league. The Lakers would move all of them, and as the 2019-20 NBA champions, they surely don’t regret it.
Yet, there is one player that the Lakers may regret moving. We’re thinking of Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls. He’s the type of elite defensive guard that any contending team could use.
Could the Lakers get him back from Chicago?
NBA Trade Proposal — Los Angeles Lakers Land Alex Caruso
Chicago Bulls Receive: G Jalen Hood-Schifino, F/C Jaxson Hayes, G/F Cam Reddish, 2029 First-Round Pick (Top 4 Protected – LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F Alex Caruso
Why would the Lakers miss Caruso more than Brandon Ingram? Isn’t Ingram the better player of the two? What exactly are we even talking about?
Sure, the Lakers would love to have Ingram. They’d also love to have Nikola Jokic, or a time machine so they can acquire a prime Michael Jordan.
The Lakers were never going to acquire Anthony Davis without moving Ingram. That’s exactly the type of necessary sacrifice that we touched on earlier.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
By contrast, they could have kept Caruso. They should have. He’s the type of player who would complement the stars that the Lakers actually do have.
Could they really get him back?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
We think so – but it will cost them. Caruso may be the best defensive guard in the NBA – if he isn’t, it’s because Jrue Holiday or Marcus Smart exist. Caruso is on a very short list. He will not come cheap.
Parting with Hood-Schifino after recently drafting him stings. The Lakers were likely looking forward to Jaxson Hayes’ interior presence as well. More broadly, the Lakers are getting much older here.
They’re sending out three young players for a guy who will be exiting his prime before long. Is it really worth it? ‘Yes. Once more – Caruso could be the best defensive guard in the NBA. He’ll make the Lakers a much better team at this price.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Given that LeBron James is nearing the end of his career, that’s critical. The Lakers need to capitalize on their limited title window.
Should the Bulls help them?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do This Deal
The Lakers have a short title window to capitalize on. The Bulls have no title window at all. This team didn’t even make the playoffs in 2022-23. With that in mind, it’s time for the Bulls to rebuild.
This gets them off to a nice start. Hood-Schifino is an exciting addition. This team needs a point guard. Hood-Schifino is an intriguing prospect with plus positional size. He flashed scoring and playmaking chops as a prospect leading up to the draft.
Yet, the pick is perhaps the most important element of this deal for the Bulls. Sure, it’s protected – but only lightly.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
If the Bulls are rebuilding, this is a valuable asset for them. If they’re smart, they’ll use the pick to select a player that they won’t want to let get away.
