Alex Caruso has been a key part of the Chicago Bulls' resurgence. His defense, playmaking and 3-point shooting have been very beneficial to Chicago, who sits atop the Eastern Conference.

The only blemish on Caruso's season is how much time he has missed. He hasn't played since before Christmas due to a foot sprain and a visit to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Finally, Caruso is set to return to the lineup soon.

Caruso was thrilled to be officially cleared from protocols.

Caruso coming back now is perfect timing for the Bulls. Zach LaVine suffered an injury to his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for a little bit. Although Caruso can't replicate LaVine's scoring abilities, he can still impact the game in several areas. He has legitimate All-Defensive Team-level defense and is one of the team's better shooters from deep.

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ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Caruso won't be available to play, most likely, until Wednesday. Having him available will be huge for the Bulls, who recently got embarrassed by two of the league's top teams. The team's rapid surge up the standings after missing the playoffs last year doesn't necessarily mean that they are championship material. They have a lot to prove and Caruso can help them.

As the Bulls look to compete for a championship, they will need the rest of the roster alongside LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to step up. Caruso, a former champion, has the skills and the competitive fire to be a key player for the Bulls as they look to show that they're legit.