Everyone has “the one that got away”. NBA teams are no exception. They may have let a player walk, and in hindsight, they’ll realize that they didn’t properly prioritize them.
Look at the recent history of the Los Angeles Lakers. They let a lot of quality young players get away. That’s fine – the Lakers won an MVP championship. Young stars like Brandon Ingram were necessary casualties of war.
How about Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls? Well, the Lakers could have kept him around. Caruso has developed into one of the best defensive guards in the NBA since leaving the Lakers. Could they re-acquire him this summer?
NBA Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: G D’Angelo Russell, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F Alex Caruso, F Torrey Craig, C Andre Drummond
The Lakers had to trade Ingram. That was part of the deal that landed them Anthony Davis. In the NBA, you can’t pass up an opportunity to pair two top-ten players.
That’s exactly what the Lakers did. When LeBron James joined their roster, he was joining a cast of misfit young players. That was never going to be sustainable. The Lakers acquired James knowing that they’d be making a blockbuster deal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The rest is history. The Lakers were the 2019-20 NBA champions. With that said, they haven’t looked like serious title contenders since. Could reuniting with Caruso get them back on track?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
It’s been rumored that the Lakers want to add a premier perimeter talent this summer. Caruso may not be exactly who they have in mind. The Lakers have been more frequently linked to offensive stars like Trae Young.
Sure. Young will cost a lot more than Caruso. Meanwhile, the Lakers are light on assets. This team needs to make an upgrade, but they may want to make a slightly more modest one if they don’t want to torpedo their future.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Besides – Caruso is excellent. He may be the best defensive guard in the league. Caruso has developed into a reliable floor spacer as well. Finally, the Lakers are landing two more quality rotation players in Drummond and Craig. Should the Bulls part with those players?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Bulls are likely seeking more draft capital than this for Caruso. Fair. If they insist on landing multiple first-rounders, they’ll seek a different deal than this one.
On the other hand, not all first-round picks are born equally. This is an especially valuable pick. The Lakers are aging, and they don’t have the draft capital to improve in the distant future. They’re squarely in win-now mode.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
By contrast, the Bulls should be looking to win later. They can rebuild with their own picks. By 2029, they may be in a position to trade what might be a lottery pick for a star player. That would be worth the cost of letting Caruso get away.
