The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 and have built a young team that dominated the league this season. They won 11 more games than last year and advanced two rounds further in the playoffs. A major reason for their success has been the acquisition of Alex Caruso.
Caruso has been pivotal as a lockdown perimeter defender during OKC’s run to the Finals. He anchors their high-pressure defense, which creates turnovers and fast-break opportunities. Before becoming a key figure in the Thunder’s defensive scheme, Caruso made his mark with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2017 to 2021, including their 2020 championship run. He later signed with the Chicago Bulls, who eventually traded him to OKC.
Looking Back at Alex Caruso’s Executive Decision That Made Him Leave Los Angeles for Chicago
In Los Angeles, Caruso posted modest numbers (5.9 points in 18.9 minutes per game). When it came time to negotiate in free agency, the Lakers showed little enthusiasm about bringing him back on a higher salary.
The Chicago Bulls thought differently, offering Caruso a four-year, $36.9 million contract. As a courtesy, Caruso and his agent gave the Lakers a chance to match the deal. The Lakers’ counteroffer was three years for $21 million, far short of Chicago’s bid.
Our guy Alex Caruso (@ACFresh21) on what exactly happened In free agency that led him to The Chicago Bulls.
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Caruso reportedly even offered to take a two-year, $20 million deal to stay in Los Angeles, but the Lakers didn’t budge. Reflecting on the negotiations, Caruso said in 2021:
“There’s no counters. It was just, I think, that was kind of all they had. And at that point, it was like, OK, I have to make an executive decision based on real life here.”
The Lakers replaced Caruso by signing Kendrick Nunn and re-signing Talen Horton-Tucker to a three-year, $31 million deal. Ironically, Horton-Tucker signed with the Bulls this offseason. While Caruso became a defensive stalwart and a vital part of the Thunder, Horton-Tucker has regressed.
In hindsight, the Lakers’ decision not to re-sign Caruso has proven costly. This season, following the Luka Dončić trade, the Lakers lacked defensive depth and intensity, a weakness that showed in their first-round loss to Minnesota. Having Caruso would have made a difference.
While letting Caruso walk isn’t as monumental as Oklahoma City trading James Harden over a few million dollars, it’s the type of move that may have cost the Lakers in recent playoff runs. Rob Pelinka is likely watching Caruso’s minutes in the Finals with regret, wondering what could have been.