Alex Caruso is one of the most sought-after names on the market, mainly due to his defensive tenacity. The Milwaukee Bucks could acquire him from the Chicago Bulls as part of an fascinating trade idea that could pay off in the future.
Undrafted out of Texas A&M, the 6-foot-10 defensive back caught the eye of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 during the Summer League that year and came off the bench as a valuable player.
From that point on, Caruso’s hustle and defensive intensity earned him a spot on the Lakers’ roster. His purple and gold run ended with: winning run in 2020along with All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, management’s decision to let him play in 2021 turned out to be a boon for the Chicago Bulls, who quickly brought in Bald Mamba from Los Angeles.
Now in his third year with the Bulls, Caruso has continued to make a name for himself as a respected defensive specialist with a knack for gaining distance off the ground with shots from downtown. Above the last three seasonsHe averages a solid 7.8 points on 38% long-range shooting, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, demonstrating his balanced skills on both ends of the court.
How the Milwaukee Bucks can acquire Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls in an fascinating trade proposal
The Bucks defense was clearly disappointed last season after trading veteran guard Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard. Milwaukee’s front office could remedy this problem by trading defensive ace Alex Caruso for gigantic man Bobby Portis, MarJon Beauchamp and their first-round pick this year, as Jackson Gross explained to Brew Hoop.
“Let’s assume they can get this done early and the deal actually happens on July 1, which would provide an immediate improvement to the Bucks’ biggest need: perimeter defense. In this deal, the Bulls send Alex Caruso’s expiring contract for Bobby, MarJon Beauchamp and no. 23rd in this year’s draft,” Gross wrote.
“For the Bucks, trading their only first-round pick until 2026 will be burdensome, but Caruso is too valuable a player to not acquire a first-round pick in addition to two other players. Caruso immediately became the second starting defenseman alongside Damian Lillard and took on the toughest assignment at guard every night.
Caruso is also a reliable three-point shooter, hitting 40.8% on 4.7 attempts per game, and he doesn’t need the ball in his hand as 136 of his 172 jump shots were assisted. In a vacuum, I think this trade makes sense for both sides, but my only doubt is the idea of the Bucks and Bulls making such a trade. It’s not unusual for teams in the same division to make deals, but I think in this case it’s a bit more difficult to see it come to fruition,” he added.
While this would cost Milwaukee a significant portion of their assets, including Portis and their remaining first-round pick through 2026, the opportunity to strengthen their defense should not be wasted at all. In this case, Caruso contributes much more than all the assets he loses.
Time will tell if Milwaukee pursues Caruso or not. Either way, the Bucks need to act quickly if they want to make the most of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s championship window.
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