(sabasports report)The Bulls agreed to trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey alone! The first deal of the summer of 2024 has the potential to go down as one of the most muddled deals in NBA history. The Thunder appear to have acquired a valuable piece of the championship puzzle at no cost to themselves.
Caruso, a 2023 first-team All-defensive selection, was also named to the All-Defensive Second team last season and finished second to the Pelicans’ Herb Jones among perimeter players. His defense is not only excellent on the perimeter, but also as good as that of the post players. According to DRAPM data (a defensive impact measure that corrects for teammate, opponent, and shot randomness) for the past three years, Caruso has the highest defensive impact of any player, with six of the eight players behind him being post players.
Panel data can also show Caruso’s defensive ability. He finished third in the league with 120 tackles last season and led the league in breaking up passes with 82. In terms of tracking stats, he’s averaging 3.7 cuts per game, also leading the league.
The deal has sparked widespread controversy. While Gitty is a young player with potential, Caruso’s ability to defend and play instantly gives the Thunder the upper hand in this deal. Only time will tell if the Bulls made the right call.