The Chicago Bulls made a big splash the first day of free agency, concluding the day with the signing of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso to a four-year, $37 million contract.
With him as a member of the team’s long-term plans, it is important to break down what exactly the Bulls are getting and what he will bring to the team.
Alex Caruso brings the Chicago Bulls excellent perimeter defense
The biggest contribution Caruso will bring to the team will be on the defensive end. He played a much smaller role than he was capable of during his time on the Lakers.
Caruso was one of the best perimeter defenders Los Angeles had to offer. He is a pest to opposing ball handlers and has no issues making hustle plays. This is an added bonus of having him on the floor.
When he is in a zone on defense and making these hustle plays, it not only leads to easy baskets in transition but also is a huge energy boost to both his teammates and fans.
With Chicago historically having one of the highest attendances in the league, Caruso’s defense could lead to momentum swings and fan involvement that make the difference in some huge games.
The 2020-2021 season saw Caruso tie his career-high in steals with 1.1 per game. Along with this, he tied his career-best defensive rating. If Caruso is able to work his way up in the rotation, he may be able to prove himself as the best defender on the team.
With the additions of Caruso and Lonzo Ball on long-term deals, it is clear that the Bulls are trying to bring in defensive-minded players. In recent history, Chicago has been at its best when they have had a top-10 defense in the league.
If they are able to build on the above league average defensive play they had in the 2020-2021 season, the Bulls could easily be a top ten defense in the league. Pairing this with the elite scoring they get from players like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic and the Bulls should make the playoffs this season.
Alex Caruso brings the Chicago Bulls efficient scoring
Caruso is not much of a scorer, however, he makes the most of the opportunities he is given.
He is a career 37.7 percent shooter from three and set a career-high of 40.1 percent from beyond the arc last season. Also, Caruso had a career-high in effective field goal percentage at 52.6.
Despite never averaging more than 10 points per game, Caruso can still make a big difference on offense. He is a great catch-and-shoot threat which forces defenses to guard him honestly.
This will make life much easier for Zach LaVine on drives to the basket and Nikola Vucevic on post touches. He is the model of a 3-and-D player who does not need the ball in his hands to make a difference on either end of the floor.
The Caruso signing was incredible for the Bulls. While they may have paid more than some other franchises to get him, he will prove to be well worth the extra money spent on him. He knows how to play his role perfectly and knows how to play alongside stars and facilitate their games.
Hopefully, he will be able to play a much bigger role on the Bulls than he did the Lakers and he will be able to show what he can really do in this league. Bulls fans should be ecstatic about this signing and about their Day 1 of free agency in general.