The Los Angeles Lakers thought they were on their way to win the new season with their impressive offseason trades. But the start of the new season does not raise the hopes or even live up to the expectations of the LA fans. They had a horrible preseason, losing four and winning only a couple of games. Anyway, they had a plan to beat the Denver Nuggets in the regular season opener. But they lost again to the new champions. The Nuggets blew the Lakers in the season opener 119-107.
Since then, the Lakers have lost four and won three in the regular season so far. It has been an underwhelming start to the season for the top contenders. They already face the issue of injuries to key players. Lately, the new face of the LA side, Anthony Davis, sustained a hip injury during a game against the Miami Heat. Moreover, the 17-time champions lost that game. But the questionable health of Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, and so on are raising suspicions on how complete the Lakers roster actually is. What if they need someone who’s sort of a blast from the past? Lately, the rumor centering around the “Cult Hero” Alex Caruso is gaining a lot of attention.
An Exec Said, “LA Regrets Letting Caruso Move To Chicago”
Recently, an Eastern Conference executive mentioned that the Lakers regret letting Alex Caruso go in the 2021 free agency. Later, Caruso moved to the Chicago Bulls. As per Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, the executive said the Lakers knew instantly that it was a mistake to let Caruso go. Moreover, the executive pointed out to the front office, saying they knew that Caruso could help them bring a lot of toughness to the roster. Albeit, the great defensive player is not the same player he was three years ago, he can still help the Lakers in a lot of ways. Mainly because the LA side does not have much of an edge, and Alex Caruso can help them fix that.
Lakers Could Seek Trade for Alex Caruso 👀
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BasketballOnX) November 8, 2023
"The rumor around the Lakers was they regretted letting him go almost immediately after it happened," the exec said. "They knew that was a mistake. He's not the same player now, but the Lakers are worried they don't have enough of an… pic.twitter.com/xFscuUC4UB
At least, that’s what the executive told Deveney. Like Austin Reaves in 2021, Caruso, too, went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. Later, he signed with the Lakers and played for them in his first four NBA seasons. He played a significant role in 2020 to help the Lakers win the 2020 bubble championships. Moreover, Alex Caruso energized the team in the defense and helped Anthony Davis and LeBron James in the offense as well. After a strong season with the Lakers, he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2021. Even the Bulls signed him for another four-year deal worth $37 million.
What Can The Lakers Trade For Alex Caruso?
Caruso had a great start for the Bulls as they went 46-36 in his first season. Gradually, the Bulls had a few disappointing seasons in a row. Hence, if they feel like rebuilding, then they might trade Caruso too. In the last eight games, Caruso averaged 6.4 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3.9 rpg, along with 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Also, Alex Caruso averaged 0.9 three-pointers per contest. Moreover, the executive said the Lakers could use Jalen Hood-Schifino or Max Christie to trade for Alex Caruso. Adding to that, the executive mentioned that “Coveted” is a good word for Caruso, as many teams are waiting for the Bulls to get ready to trade him.
