Although Dallas ended a championship-caliber playoff run from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the front office was left with immense optimism heading into the summer. Outside of possessing the brightest young core in the NBA, the root of excitement surrounds the addition of Alex Caruso, a one-of-a-kind role player from the Chicago Bulls.
Throughout his tenure with the Bulls, Caruso was the best role player in the NBA. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, making plays that contribute beyond the box score.
In a starting role next to a potential MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Caruso will be expected to elevate his game on both ends of the court. However, this shouldn’t be much of an adjustment as he improved significantly during his final season in Chicago.
Alex Caruso will be an anchor on defense for the Oklahoma City Thunder next season.
Under head coach Mark Daigneault, Alex Caruso will have a prominent role as the Thunder’s starting point guard. He is long overdue for a promotion, as the 2020 NBA Champion can handle the ball, shoot from anywhere on the court, and defend with the best in the league.
In 71 games for the Bulls last season, Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 40.8% from beyond the arc on 4.7 attempts. These numbers do not highlight his defense, as the former Texas A&M Aggie made the 2023-24 all-defensive second team.
Over the past two seasons, Caruso has notably been in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion. Despite deserving the award, Chicago was unable to make the playoffs. For the Thunder, winning will not be an issue, as their core will likely finish as a top-three seed. This nearly guarantees Caruso a finalist position for the all-world honor.
Assuming Caruso elevates the Thunder to new heights, he will receive a hefty extension from the front office. He is in the last year of his deal, and team executives would love to hold on to the two-way contributor. Within one season, Caruso could become an essential piece for Oklahoma City’s long-term future.
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