The Oklahoma City Thunder recently completed their trade of Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Josh Giddey. The trade reunites Alex Caruso and head coach Mark Daigneault, as the two worked together with the Oklahoma City Blue from 2016 to 2017.
A lot has changed between Caruso and Daigneault since then, as the former went from being undrafted to winning one NBA championship and the latter is now the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best teams in the league.
When the local media asked Alex Caruso about the reunion, the 30-year-old guard couldn’t help but feel giddy about his full circle moment, playing for his former mentor again.
“I was smiling ear to ear, talking to him on the phone. He told me, ‘Don’t be a smartass’, and I told him, I can’t wait for him to cuss me out at the first practice,” Caruso shared via Andrew Schlecht of The Athletic.
Alex Caruso is just what the Oklahoma City Thunder needs
The acquisition of Alex Caruso gives the Oklahoma City Thunder a solid two-way veteran with championship experience. The fact that they didn’t lose a draft pick in the trade with the Chicago Bulls is a huge win for them.
Other than being a one-time NBA champion, Alex Caruso was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2023 and NBA All-Defensive Second Team this year, highlighting his defensive prowess.
This season, the Texas A&M product averaged career-highs of 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the Chicago Bulls in 71 regular-season games (57 starts). He also shot 40.8 percent from three-point range and 46.8 percent from the floor.
With Alex Caruso forming a tandem with Lu Dort, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s overall defense has improved massively.
