The Oklahoma City Thunder made an unexpected trade, sending former No. 6 overall pick Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for defensive standout Alex Caruso on Thursday. Caruso's return to Oklahoma City marks a significant moment, as he started his professional career with the team, having been part of training camp and the OKC Blue.
While with the G League's OKC Blue, Caruso was under the coaching of Mark Daigneault, who currently leads the OKC Thunder bench.
Alex Caruso and Mark Daigneault reunion
In a recent interview with OKC media Caruso expressed his excitement to play for Daigneault again stating, “I was smiling ear to ear, talking to him on the phone… He told me, ‘Don't be a smartass', and I told him, I can't wait for him to cuss me out at the first practice.”
Both Caruso and Daigneault transitioned from the G League to successful NBA careers, with Daigneault earning Coach of the Year honors this season, and Caruso playing a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 Championship team.
Two standout success stories from the NBA's developmental league, Caruso and Daigneault, have come full circle, reuniting at the highest level. Caruso is an ideal fit for Daigneault's system, showcasing versatility as a defender, sharpshooter, and adept player both on and off the ball.
A perfect fit with the Oklahoma City Thunder
In his last two seasons with the Bulls, the former Texas A&M standout has truly blossomed, earning consecutive selections to the league's All-Defense team. Standing at 6-foot-5, his versatility as a guard has made him a defensive force, adept at keeping pace with speedy guards and holding his own against bulkier forwards.
With defensive stalwarts like Lu Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren on the Thunder roster, Caruso might find himself in greater heights, roaming the court with his swift instincts to disrupt passing lanes and generate turnovers.
With Gilgeous-Alexander's impressive average of two steals per game last season, he demonstrated his prowess as a solid defender. Adding Dort and now Caruso to the mix, the Oklahoma City Thunder are poised to boast one of the best perimeter defenses in the NBA.
Despite fielding a young and relatively inexperienced team, the Thunder demonstrated their capability to compete against the NBA's elite. They secured the top seed in the Western Conference but were ultimately eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.
Win-win for the Thunder and the Bulls
Although losing Giddey means a loss in size and playmaking, adding Caruso to the mix could complete the recipe for a championship-caliber team.
Caruso's season averages of 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists highlight his value as a well-rounded contributor. Moreover, Caruso has consistently averaged at least 1.5 steals per game over the past three seasons.
Alex Caruso fits perfectly into Mark Daigneault's offensive style, which emphasizes passing, shooting, and ball-handling skills from all players in the rotation. His shooting efficiency of over 40% from beyond the arc last season, coupled with his back-to-back All-Defense selections, align well with the Thunder's existing lineup strengths.
Josh Giddey on the other hand showcased his potential with the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, making significant contributions off the bench by averaging 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in just over 25 minutes per game.
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