Most underrated Chicago Bulls signings this offseason: Alex Caruso
The more and more that the Bulls built out the roster via free agency and various sign-and-trade deals this offseason, the more I liked the signing of the former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Alex Caruso. Originally, it looked a bit like the Bulls have overpaid for Caruso. But that opinion should be dying down heading into next season.
I actually really like the Bulls getting Caruso on a four-year contract worth a total of around $37.25 million. While that does pay Caruso nearly eight figures per year through the end of the 2024-25 season, that could be worth it.
Caruso brings an excellent defensive presence to the table, and is a good knockdown shooter from three-point range.
Last season, Caruso shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc and registered nearly a career-high with a 2.3 defensive box plus/minus. The Bulls are going to need some situational defensive help, which Caruso can certainly provide.
It’s hard to find a bad combination for Caruso with any of the other top guards in this rotation. He could add a nice defensive boost that would be much needed in the second unit along with Coby White. Or he could provide another floor spacer and defensive boost along with star shooting guard Zach LaVine or rookie point guard Ayo Dosunmu.
Caruso could be a key cog in this backcourt unit for a long time. The Bulls definitely needed defensive help. And with how good of a player off-ball Caruso is on both ends of the floor, along with his floor spacing ability, he should be a very natural fit in the Donovan system.