The Milwaukee Bucks may have to make major moves this offseason if they want to contend for another ring. In this regard, Jon Horst and the front office may have to consider pursuing Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso to improve the team’s defense.
Unlike most stars these days, Caruso went undrafted after playing for Texas A&M in college. In 2017, though, the Los Angeles Lakers signed him up after they liked his performance in the Summer League of that year. While initially given the role as Lonzo Ball’s backup in the backcourt, the 6’5″ guard eventually earned more playing time over the years.
His run in Los Angeles culminated in a championship with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in 2020. However, the front office opted to let Caruso walk away in 2021 rather than give him a new contract. This allowed the Chicago Bulls to swoop in and sign the defensive specialist to their team.
Now in his third year with the Bulls, Caruso has established himself as a respected defender with the ability to stretch the floor on the other end. Over the course of three seasons in Chicago, the Bald Mamba averaged 7.8 points on 38 percent shooting from deep, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Chicago Bulls’ Alex Caruso Named As Potential Trade Target For Milwaukee Bucks
Last season, the Bucks fielded a 19th place defense over the course of the regular season. The year before, the team had a defense ranked fourth among 30 teams with veteran guard Jrue Holiday in the lineup. To remedy this predicament, Milwaukee’s front office may have to pursue Caruso, as detailed in an article Brian Sampson wrote for Forbes.
“The Bucks are in a position where every roster move can make or break their championship hopes. Trading for Caruso would be a savvy move that enhances their defense, adds veteran leadership, and brings invaluable intangibles to the team.
Despite his injury history, Caruso’s potential impact, particularly in the playoffs, makes him a risk worth taking. The Bucks need to make this happen—Caruso’s blend of grit, defensive prowess, and unselfish play is exactly what they need to push for another championship,” Sampson wrote.
With a core of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Caruso can potentially thrive in Milwaukee due to his specialized set of skills. As it stands, he still has one year left in his contract with the Bulls and it might take some assets for the Bucks to get him.
It remains to be seen whether Chicago retains Caruso, Milwaukee trades for him, or another team gets him in the offseason. In any case, the defensive specialist will attract a lot of attention in the coming months for the upside he brings to any team.
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