Trade Proposal Sends Alex Caruso Back To Lakers, Jarred Vanderbilt To Bulls

One NBA analyst proposed that the Los Angeles Lakers reunite with old friend Alex Caruso this offseason. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Chicago Bulls:

The trade: The Chicago Bulls trade Alex Caruso to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2029 first-round pick (top-four-protected)

The Lakers regret losing Caruso to the Bulls in the offseason of 2022. LeBron James and Anthony Davis loved playing with Caruso, one of the best defenders in the NBA. 

The Bulls have told teams they are not interested in trading Caruso, but Buckley still thinks the Lakers should try again to acquire the All-NBA defender. 

“Caruso would immediately become L.A.’s top perimeter defender while also making his mark as a spot-up shooter, secondary playmaker, transition attacker and right-place, right-time cutter,” Buckley wrote. “If he didn’t crack the starting five, he would absolutely snag a spot with the closing group.

“The Bulls previously put a high trade price on Caruso, but they might think this suffices if they’re fans of Vanderbilt, who is an impactful and versatile defensive stopper in his own right. A lightly protected future first from a team built around a 39-year-old James and a 31-year-old, oft-injured Davis is about as valuable as a draft asset can be.”

Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks this season while shooting 46.8% overall, 40.8% from 3 and 76.0% from the free-throw line. He will make $9.9 million next season. 

The Bulls missed the playoffs this year, while the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round in five games.

Los Angeles needs a new head coach after firing Darvin Ham. The franchise is widely expected to hire former NBA guard and current ESPN broadcaster JJ Redick, who has a rapport with Caruso. 

The 30-year-old Caruso has career averages of 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Lakers and Bulls.