Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso is in his third year with the Chicago Bulls, and he has elevated his game this season while being linked to the Lakers at times.
LeBron James showed him some love on social media for a play he made in the Bulls’ blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
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Caruso, who went undrafted out of Texas A&M University, played his first four NBA seasons with the Lakers, and during that time, he became a huge fan favorite. He was a key contributor to their 2020 championship team and established himself as one of the game’s best backcourt defenders.
Los Angeles let him leave in free agency in 2021, but he has seemingly gotten better in Chicago. Last season, he was named to the All-Defensive First Team for the first time, and so far this season, he’s shooting 49.4 percent from the field while making 41.7 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Caruso’s improved shooting has added another dimension to his game. While with the Lakers, he was often an average outside shooter, and he was regarded as very limited offensively.
While the Lakers have a number of rumored trade targets who are point guards or ball-handling guards, they could also use a wing player who’s capable of stymieing opponents while spacing the floor on offense. As long as Caruso keeps up his hot 3-point shooting, he would fit that description.
The fact that he won a ring with James and Anthony Davis in 2020 would also be an advantage for him, as it would shortcut L.A.’s efforts to get used to playing with him should it manage to land him in a trade.
The Bulls are 21-23 and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, but they may have little to play for, as their ceiling doesn’t seem to be higher than their current level of play. Caruso, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, three of their best players, have all been mentioned in trade buzz, and time will tell how the franchise plays its hand.
