Chicago Bulls: AK outbid the Lakers for Alex Caruso

We knew at the outset of the offseason that it wasn’t going to be easy for the Chicago Bulls to sign all of the pieces they did to help bolster this roster for head coach Billy Donovan heading into next season. And three of the most coveted players that the Bulls landed during the offseason didn’t come cheap. That trip of players that cost the Bulls a good amount to sign includes star shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan, point guard Lonzo Ball, and guard Alex Caruso.

And of those three, Caruso was the only one that the Bulls didn’t have to give up anything in a sign-and-trade for. The Bulls signed Caruso to a four-year deal worth around $37 million in total. It was surprising that the Bulls were able to outbid Caruso’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to sign him this summer.

In what looked to be a potential bidding war with the Lakers, the Bulls were able to snag Caruso away. We now know since that the Lakers likely weren’t willing to give Caruso more than around $7 million in average annual value for his next contract. And with the Bulls giving Caruso more than $9 million in average annual value, this is why Arturas Karnisovas got the deal done.

Chicago Bulls outbid Lakers for Alex Caruso, despite Rob Pelinka’s “aggressive” approach

A report since from Rob Pelinka of the Lakers (thanks to the SB Nation site Silver Screen & Roll) indicates that they wanted to keep Caruso around. But it also tabs that Caruso “wanted” to be a member of the Bulls, especially with the contract that Karnisovas offered him to sign with Chicago.

Apparently the Lakers took an “aggressive” approach with trying to get Caruso back with the team heading into next season. And the lone team that really put up a challenge to snag him away was the Bulls.

There is clearly something that Karnisovas and Marc Eversley see in Caruso that makes him very valuable to this backcourt unit. He is a good outside shooter and solid perimeter defender, which are two spots where the Bulls needed help this summer.

It is very exciting to see a front office regime for the Bulls that is actually going all-in to try and win. We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out next season for Donovan and the Bulls with a shiny new roster that looks ready to contend for the postseason in the East.

Donovan and the Bulls are set to open up Training Camp is just a few days now, specifically on Sep. 28. And then, the Bulls open up the preseason slate on Oct. 5 at home at the United Center against the Cleveland Cavaliers.