Shortly after Alex Caruso agreed to a four-year, $37MM deal with the Bulls in August, a pair of reports indicated that the Lakers didn’t come close to matching that offer and that L.A. wasn’t willing to go any higher than about $7MM per year for the free agent guard.
Making an appearance on J.J. Redick‘s The Old Man and the Three podcast, Caruso didn’t explicitly confirm those reports, but his comments strongly suggested they were accurate. The 27-year-old spoke in detail about his experience in free agency and how he ended up signing with Chicago.
“Going into it, I really didn’t know what to expect and I really didn’t hear much from any team, including the Lakers, leading up to 6:00pm,” Caruso said. “And then they called and the Lakers made their offer. It wasn’t an offer I was going to accept, because I was going to be able to get considerably more money from another team.”
As Caruso explained, after fighting so hard to earn an NBA roster spot and earning fairly modest salaries during his first four years in the league, he viewed free agency as his best opportunity to gain long-term financial security for him and his family. In other words, money was going to be an important factor in his decision.
“There was talk with a bunch of different people about the mid-level, which I think was four (years) for $40 (million),” Caruso said. “We never got anybody to that actual number, but there were a couple teams that got close. Then my agent texted me and said, ‘Hey, Chicago’s interested in signing you.’ I didn’t know that financially it was going to be able to work. I thought once ‘Zo (Lonzo Ball) signed with Chicago, I was like, “OK, well, Chicago’s off the list.’
“… (But) I got on the phone with AK (president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas) and with (head coach) Billy (Donovan), and the way they were just talking about how they wanted to play, how they saw me as a player, I thought they hit the nail on the head. I thought everything they said, I was like, ‘I think that’s accurate, I think that’s what I bring to the table, I think that’s how I can help the team win, I think that’s the direction that this team wants to go.’ I thought there was a need for the stuff that I had.”
Although Caruso liked the idea of heading to Chicago, he was reluctant to leave Los Angeles after winning a championship with the franchise in 2020. He told Redick that he and his camp circled back to the Lakers to see if they’d be willing to do a deal in the range of the one he was being offered by the Bulls.
“So essentially we got that offer, went back to L.A., asked if they could do the same. They said no,” Caruso said. “Asked for something else that was a little less. They said no. I said, ‘OK, well, if that’s what it comes to, I’m ready to go to Chicago and start the next chapter.'”
Caruso didn’t share the specifics of the Lakers’ offer, but provided a hint. Redick guessed that L.A.’s initial offer was $15MM over two years, and asked Caruso to blink once if that estimate was “over” and twice if it was “under.” It was hardly a scientific process, but for what it’s worth, Caruso blinked just once, suggesting the Lakers’ offer was lower.
Los Angeles projects to be a taxpayer this season, so any deal with Caruso would’ve cost the team exponentially more in tax penalties than the guard would’ve actually earned. The Lakers ended up letting virtually all of their free agents walk, with the exception of Talen Horton-Tucker.
In 10 games (27.9 MPG) for the Bulls so far, Caruso has been a key member of the team’s bench, averaging 7.8 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 2.3 SPG while playing strong defense. With Chicago off to a 7-3 start and tied for the best record in the East, Caruso told Redick that joining the Bulls has been “a great decision for me.”
Money extremely well spent for the Bulls.
Judging from the comments on this site when the deal was made, it apparently wasn’t.
Funny how the comments panned this signing, and the poll of executives and scouts that said demar was the worst move of the offseason…AK is a phenom and if you don’t know now you know
I wouldn’t judge things by the comments on this site.
This is the kind of insightful, well thought out move that Gar-Pax would never have had the smarts to make.
As a B
Ugh hit post too soon. As a Bulls fan, it was surreal going into an off-season and watch our front office: (1) have a game plan; and (2) actually pull it off. Twilight zone stuff after the last ten years
As a C
Correction, GarPax would’ve made the signing but it would’ve been they’re “big” move
As a Bulls fan, we all love Caruso here. He gets a loud applause and even standing ovations at times when coming into the game. He hustles and plays hard. Definitely worth the contract he signed. Thank you Lakers for not matching it.
I think Caruso gets pigeon-holed as a hustle guy. He does that, but let’s not forget he is skilled. He’s very athletic and is one of the best guard defenders in the league. Excellent need signing by the Bulls, and a good opportunity for Caruso to show his skills.
As a Laker fan, I am happy for him and his bank account. However, I am also glad the Lakers didn’t pay that much for him. He is a 2nd unit spark plug that often tries too hard, which doesn’t always work out well.
You would rather Lakers sign 5 washed up dudes than Caruso. Lol.
Had to fill out the roster somehow…
He’s much more valuable and cheaper than Westbrook, lol.
Over paying Westbrook because LeBron wanted him is a huge mistake. 2nd unit players that contribute is what good teams should spend on. Now they have a bunch of old guys on a second unit that do not bring much.
How do you know lebron’s the reason why the lakers got westbrook?
because Lebron is more the GM than anyone in the Lakers organization. Did he recruit AD and other players? Yes. Just like how he has been tampering with players around the league.
arc89, LJ did not just recruit AD, but he waited for him and showed no interest in other options, namely Paul George, thus assuring an off year on his record of every year the playoffs.
Westbrook however, was an opportunity, to help with days when the big two were injury-managing. Not the same thing.
If that was really the case and he’s really the GM, why does he have to leave cleveland and teamed up with wade & bosh? Why only now did melo joined him?
How do you overpay in a trade that matched salaries? I’d much rather roll the dice on Westbrick than the dudes that went to the Wizards.
Oof. What a bad take.
The Lakers are missing his defensive tenacity right now. We are depending on outscoring every team and when we’re on and healthy that might work. However with injuries and the mixed results from Westbrook so far, it seems like perhaps the bench should’ve been structured with some more perimeter defense on it.
I wasn’t too familiar with Caruso when he signed with the Bulls. Truthfully, I’m not an avid NBA fan, but more casual. I enjoy the older style of play rather than the current style; but with that being said, I’m loving the way the Bulls are playing. They have played surprisingly good defense and really push the ball in transition which is exciting to watch as a fan.
Going back to Caruso, he has gained a fan in me with his heart and his hustle. I love watching this guy play. He busts his ass all of the time and I really enjoy those grinders. I’m glad the Bulls have turned this franchise around and am hoping for a nice successful run after all of those horrible GarPax years.
You gotta respect a man that puts money as the biggest part of his decision, that is what must be expected from a professional player, they ain’t charities, franchises make far too much money for players to give them any discount!
People still do not give Caruso enough credit… Caruso has creative abilities and can sustain an “on” period if it’s his day, or defer if not. He stays alert regardless, hustles, covers the court, bursts suddenly.
The more minutes the better for his team; but he did no go for starting in free agency… he says. He was not celebrated a lot in the NBA, initially, so got used to that apparently.
I was wondering if he knew the Bulls already had signed Ball. He said he knew. He might make this claim whichever it was. But it has worked out.
He didn’t fit the “ Laker profile” old, very old, ready for the old folks home old and butt kisser to GM BRON BRON they smartest player in the league. Just ask him
Pelinka is overmatched.
He sells low on his players and they thrive after they leave the team.
I know everyone blames LeBron but it’s the front office’s job to build a roster and tell James when he’s wrong.
Who’s thrived exactly?
Caruso is a good guy to have on any team. Fact. The Bulls are playing well. Good luck!
He’s got the hoops.