Lakers Rumors: Team Could Seek Trade Reunion With $37 Million Guard

One way the Lakers could potentially improve their early-season performance in 2023–24 is by making a trade for a former Laker. Although the Lakers rumor mill is still in its early stages in November, an executive has suggested that Los Angeles could be interested in Bulls guard Alex Caruso. Caruso helped the team win the 2020 NBA title in the Orlando bubble.

An important reserve player for that squad, Alex Caruso signed a $37 million, four-year contract with the Bulls in 2021 after leaving the Lakers. Caruso averaged 5.9 points in 184 games while he was a member of the Lakers, so he’s not a big stats player, but many in the organization soon saw that it was a bad decision for him to go.

One Eastern Conference executive told Heavy Sports, “The rumor was that the Lakers regretted letting him go almost immediately after it happened.” They were aware that was incorrect. Although he is no longer the same player, the Lakers are concerned that their advantage is insufficient. He might be able to assist in making that right.

Bulls Are Overappreciated Trade Market with Alex Caruso

Any Lakers rumor is, of course, wonderful in a vacuum, but for it to become true, it needs some assistance from the other side. There were rumors last year that the Bulls were looking for two first-round selections in exchange for Caruso. This led some to believe that the team was not interested in selling Caruso at all, as nobody was willing to part with so much for a role player of his caliber.

The Bulls may need to be more realistic about Caruso’s worth this year because Chicago has struggled early in the season and may need to make some changes. They might want for a first-round pick, which would probably be too much for the Lakers to accept. However, there might be ways around that.

“If they wait until December 15, they could forfeit another contract and (Jalen) Hood-Schifino, but they wouldn’t forfeit a (first-round) pick. Alternatively, Max Christie has some worth, the executive stated. “They have young guys they can put up there, but they’re not giving up a pick.”

Without a choice they could control, the Bulls probably wouldn’t be interested in a deal predicated on Christie or Hood-Schifino. However, if Caruso’s market is generally underwhelming, the Lakers might be able to add him without using up any of their precious future assets.

There May Be Several Teams Associated with This Lakers Rumor

If there was a limited market on Caruso, that would be surprising. Despite his career total of 6.0 points on 43.0% shooting, he is a proven winner and a role player who can lead with hustle and defense. These are skills that are considerably more valuable.

Naturally, we’re still very much in the speculations about the Lakers stage of this. Chicago has not yet discussed transactions involving Caruso, and until December 15, when contracts signed this summer can be sold, nothing is likely to happen.

Naturally, it would be challenging for the Lakers to acquire Caruso in a crowded market. However, he is likely to be mentioned in Lakers rumors.

“The word “coveted” fits him well. The executive told Heavy Sports, “They could trade Alex Caruso if you want to make a trade tomorrow. Approximately 50% of the league’s teams would provide an offer. More teams than any other are keeping an eye on that scenario, and Caruso is the player they are most interested in seeing. It’s just a matter of time until the Bulls decide to let him go and make adjustments.

Veteran sports writer Sean Deveney works for Heavy.com, covering the NBA and NFL. With over 20 years of NBA coverage experience, including 17 years as the lead NBA correspondent for Sporting News, he has been writing for Heavy since 2019. A writer of seven nonfiction books, Deveney is the author of “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.”Additional details regarding Sean Deveney