The Chicago Bulls and free agent guard Alex Caruso have agreed to a four-year, $37 million deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Caruso became a free agent after spending four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, who just made a flurry of veteran signings. The Bulls made a huge move earlier in the day by adding PG Lonzo Ball in a sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. Chicago has had a pretty strong day by adding two great defenders in Ball and Caruso.
Caruso played 58 games for LA last season and hot over 40 percent from three-point range. He brings perimeter defense and the 3-point shot to the table, something that Bulls coach Billy Donovan should be able to get the most out of on this roster. Coby White may miss time early on in the season after having shoulder surgery this summer. That opens up a path for Caruso to contribute as a backup guard.
The Bulls went from having pretty weak guard depth to staring down Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu as a four-man rotation in 2021-22. If Patrick Williams can take a big step as a sophomore in the NBA, the Bulls could have one of the better defensive teams in the League. The issue would be down low, but between Williams and Thaddeus Young, Chicago will have bodies who can guard multiple positions.
If you’re here and you’re a Lakers fan doom searching for Caruso takes, well, at least you still have LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, right? Caruso’s loss is tough to swallow for LA, but the team also just added veterans Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington and Dwight Howard. Ellington provides the shooting, Ariza provides some 3-and-D. Howard defends down low, so all three can compensate for the loss of Caruso, I’d say.