- Report: Lakers looking to upgrade from Patrick Beverley
- Phil Handy seemingly compares Rui Hachimura to Kawhi Leonard: ‘Reminds me of this guy I coached in Toronto’
- Report: Dennis Schroder stopped by police in Hollywood after leaving Lakers game
- Report: Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Pistons and Hornets interested in Caris LeVert
- Chandler Parsons on LeBron James: ‘If they were winning more, he’s my MVP’
- Report: Lakers update injury statuses for Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker and LeBron James vs. Spurs
- Report: Lakers showing interest in Mike Conley and Eric Gordon
- Report: Pistons would need ‘significant value’ to consider moving Lakers target Bojan Bogdanovic within next 2 weeks
- Russell Westbrook snaps on Lakers reporter after being asked if there was a ‘cross-up’ between him and Dennis Schroder
- Rob Pelinka hints that Lakers could make another trade before deadline
Report: Alex Caruso expected to meet with several teams once free agency begins
- Updated: August 1, 2021
Free agent guard Alex Caruso reportedly will have multiple options this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Given that the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have the right to match any offer that Caruso receives, they might have to outbid other interested teams in order to keep him.
“The Lakers should and will try to retain both Caruso and Horton-Tucker, but that will depend on how deep they are willing to go into the luxury tax,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Bill Oram wrote. “Caruso knocked down 40.1 percent of his 3s last season. He is expected to meet with several teams when free agency begins Monday afternoon, a league source told The Athletic, with a belief that he will have multiple options at the full midlevel exception of $9.5 million. The Lakers presumably would be willing to go into the low double-digits to retain Caruso. He is a known commodity, albeit one with a clear ceiling.”
Some of his potential suitors were revealed recently.
Last season, Caruso averaged 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc.
While his numbers don’t jump off the page, Caruso is a solid defender (he had a 2.3 defensive box plus/minus last season) and fits into a role with the Lakers’ current roster.
Los Angeles certainly will have some salary cap constraints after agreeing to trade for Russell Westbrook, but if the Lakers truly value Caruso, there is a path for him to return for next season.
Free agency officially gets under way Monday, Aug. 2, at 3 p.m. PST.