The Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder completed a surprising trade on Thursday, exchanging guards Alex Caruso and Josh Giddey, as reported by ESPN.
This trade strengthens the Thunder with one of the league’s top two-way guards. Caruso, known for his solid role play with Chicago, brings significant defensive prowess to Oklahoma City.
The move was unexpected and brought mixed emotions, especially for Caruso’s girlfriend, Haleigh Broucher. She expressed her feelings on Instagram, sharing a photoshopped image of Caruso in a Thunder jersey with the caption, “So so many emotions at once. So proud of this man and so excited for this next journey #thunderup.”
Broucher also shared her gratitude for the Bulls organization: “I want to say how amazing the Bulls organization has been, how hard everyone works behind the scenes, and how grateful I am for all of the friends Iβve made along the way. I truly cherish each and every one of them and will miss them terribly. Excited for a new chapter and grateful for the old. Love you guys forever. And I’ll see you on another court.”
Caruso has built a reputation for his defensive skills, being named to the All-Defensive team twice in his seven NBA seasons. Last season, he made the second-team All-Defensive list, averaging 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
An NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Caruso averaged a career-high 10.1 points last season, along with 3.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game over 71 contests (57 starts). The 30-year-old will now join a promising group of stars in Oklahoma City, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, aiming for another strong run in the Western Conference next season.
In return, the Bulls acquire the 21-year-old Giddey, who has shown significant potential on both ends of the floor and possesses the ability to achieve a triple-double in any game.
Caruso is eligible for a four-year, $80 million contract extension in six months. Entering the final year of his current deal, ESPN reports that the Thunder hope to secure him long-term with this trade.
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