2024 NBA Off-Season Thread (FA, Trades, Extensions, Rumors)

[exstatic]

I like Alex Caruso a lot, but... he's 30 years old. It's kind of weird that OKC had to burn their nice recent lotto pick so quickly. They got a nice piece for them, and he might push them over the edge into the Finals, but it's not a long-lived one. Really nice role-player, but they still have a longjam at the guard spots. Just feels like they should have gotten more for Giddey in some way.

So, it's great as a short-term swing, but that's kind of it? Odd. Kind of feels like the Gordon Hayward swing. Probably work better, of course, but not for too long.

Not entirely sure what the Bulls do here. Caruso would have gotten attention on the market, I'd think. I get that people hate him now, but Giddey is talented. It's not like they're contending, and OKC's problem wasn't so much with him (it was) as they had zero self-creation beyond SGA, zilcho.

They got a two time All D player for a child molester with a ed up jumper. Win.

[objective]

Bulls got fleeced, AK as the GM is a disaster, no wonder they hadn't made a player trade in years

This shows what happens when teams make trades early: one side always loses bigly

Bulls had all the leverage to wait through free agency. Especially considering teams can now use their MLE as a defacto trade exception that Caruso fits into and every team in the league that missed on their targets would have been at the Bulls door desperate to trade firsts for Caruso

And OKC couldn't have much leverage. Who was desperate for a soon to be free agent with off court baggage who was played off the court in the playoffs? And OKC has a million protected firsts they weren't going to use anyway.

OKC wasn't pulling the deal off the table if Chicago wanted to wait, give me a break. Not even RC Uber and B.Wrong would have traded for Giddey. Bulls should have received additional picks.

[Mr. Body]

They got a two time All D player for a child molester with a ed up jumper. Win.

I guess.

Like I said, it's going to help them alright for a couple of years.

[Mr. Body]

Bulls got fleeced, AK as the GM is a disaster, no wonder they hadn't made a player trade in years

This shows what happens when teams make trades early: one side always loses bigly

Bulls had all the leverage to wait through free agency. Especially considering teams can now use their MLE as a defacto trade exception that Caruso fits into and every team in the league that missed on their targets would have been at the Bulls door desperate to trade firsts for Caruso

And OKC couldn't have much leverage. Who was desperate for a soon to be free agent with off court baggage who was played off the court in the playoffs? And OKC has a million protected firsts they weren't going to use anyway.

OKC wasn't pulling the deal off the table if Chicago wanted to wait, give me a break. Not even RC Uber and B.Wrong would have traded for Giddey. Bulls should have received additional picks.

There might have been more of a market for Giddey than people think. And Chicago probably wanted to know where they stood as they entered the draft.

People really freaking the out about this and it seems like sorta lateral for both teams. It doesn't help OKC as much as Presti- ers want to think, doesn't hurt Chicago as much as people think.

[exstatic]

I guess.

Like I said, it's going to help them alright for a couple of years.

I would say that no one knows Giddey’s game better, pluses and minuses, than the Thunder, and this move pretty much shows that they didn’t want to extend him, or have him on the roster without an extension in place.

[Mr. Body]

I would say that no one knows Giddey’s game better, pluses and minuses, than the Thunder, and this move pretty much shows that they didn’t want to extend him, or have him on the roster without an extension in place.

What does that have to do with anything?

[exstatic]

Bulls got fleeced, AK as the GM is a disaster, no wonder they hadn't made a player trade in years

This shows what happens when teams make trades early: one side always loses bigly

Bulls had all the leverage to wait through free agency. Especially considering teams can now use their MLE as a defacto trade exception that Caruso fits into and every team in the league that missed on their targets would have been at the Bulls door desperate to trade firsts for Caruso

And OKC couldn't have much leverage. Who was desperate for a soon to be free agent with off court baggage who was played off the court in the playoffs? And OKC has a million protected firsts they weren't going to use anyway.

OKC wasn't pulling the deal off the table if Chicago wanted to wait, give me a break. Not even RC Uber and B.Wrong would have traded for Giddey. Bulls should have received additional picks.

While Caruso has a lot of pluses, his minuses are that he’s 30 already, and he’s a rental.

[Mugen]

Replacing a guy that was unplayable in their last series with one of the most coveted 3&D players in the league coming off a 40% season shooting from 3 shouldn't help them much

Not to mention the off court baggage Giddey brings with him and the fact that it didn't take a single pick from their absolute war chest of picks to make it happen...

[Mr. Body]

Caruso is 30 years old and provides what OKC was already very good at -- perimeter defense, shooting, and scrappy play. He'll do well in the platoon. What wrecked them in the POs, though, was getting destroyed inside. I figure something's coming down the pipe there. Otherwise, they traded a 21 year-old who didn't fit in their system but is still talented for an aging role-player who, albeit very good, will be gone pretty soon.

[Mr. Body]

Caruso is one more year at less than $10 million. I'm sure he's looking for a payday, as he's worth way more, while OKC has a nasty horizon coming up on players coming due.

[Mr. Body]

I get that Presti-suckers just reflexively... suck Presti's tadger, but while this looks great in the short term, dunno. Again feels a ton like the Gordon Hayward trade where he's losing assets for things that either won't work, don't really do much different, or don't last long.

[DPG21920]

Replacing a guy that was unplayable in their last series with one of the most coveted 3&D players in the league coming off a 40% season shooting from 3 shouldn't help them much

Not to mention the off court baggage Giddey brings with him and the fact that it didn't take a single pick from their absolute war chest of picks to make it happen...

The fact anyone here can look at the situation and argue CHI didnt need to get a pick or that its no big deal are just strange to me and makes sense on how they value players/picks

[objective]

While Caruso has a lot of pluses, his minuses are that he’s 30 already, and he’s a rental.

My issue isn't trading Caruso, it's not getting the most out of their leverage. OKC doesn't have room for all their future firsts, and they have 10+ extra seconds on top of their own. OKC is more desperate as they're trying to win a le, Bulls should have squeezed them. Doing the deal this early before you see other teams fail in free agency and turn to Chicago should have been worth some draft equity.

This is like when Memphis gifted Gasol to the Lakers well betore the deadline. At the time Marc was a nothing throw in, a fat guy who Memphis passed on drafting themselves. So the deal was really Kwame and Crittenden. What would have happened if Memphis wanted to wait? Lakers pulling the offer? LOL no. They weren't walking from the deal to get the key to a le.

[DPG21920]

Caruso is 30 years old and provides what OKC was already very good at -- perimeter defense, shooting, and scrappy play. He'll do well in the platoon. What wrecked them in the POs, though, was getting destroyed inside. I figure something's coming down the pipe there. Otherwise, they traded a 21 year-old who didn't fit in their system but is still talented for an aging role-player who, albeit very good, will be gone pretty soon.

OKC is trying to win a le and has a million firsts - who cares about burning someone like Giddey you know doesnt work when it comes to winning time when you have tons of guards anyways and who cares about a “rental” when the guy is in his prime still and replaces a guy who you cant play anyways and you didnt have to pay more money or give up any picks lol?

Caruso could walk next year and OKC gave up absolutely nothing of value that they cant replace so easily for a player that may help them better win a le next season. This isnt hard IMO

[SpursBills]

OKC knows after this last playoffs that their time is now, not 2 years from now. Presti knew he couldn't afford to extend Giddey given the fit, and Giddey wasn't providing positive value in high-leverage moments either. Caruso significantly increases their championship equity for the next year; if you can trade that increase for a player that isn't providing much value either in the present or the future, that's a steal regardless of whether your gains are long term or short term, especially if no draft equity is included. Big win by Presti here even if Caruso gets injured next year.

I'm personally rooting for Giddey to succeed - Bulls hard-tanking for 3 years and that pick turning into seconds would suck ass.

[scott]

Giddey is a good tank commander though. Just young and flashy enough to sell some tickets while you sink to a 20-62 record. Very much a 2022 Keldon/Devin vibe. Agree with objective here though - seems like CHI could have held out.

[Mugen]

They'll very likely extend Caruso for something reasonable. He's 30 and still has several years of good play left in him. Also provides them Dort insurance if they want to move off of him after next season

They also literally have the most picks out of anybody else in the league because they didn't even have to attach some BS protected pick to get him. So they can easily shore up their other needs via draft, trade, FA. They lost nothing of value from the war chest.

This was a slam dunk for OKC no matter how you slice it unless you're an absolute homer or a complete idiot

[timtonymanu]

They'll very likely extend Caruso for something reasonable. He's 30 and still has several years of good play left in him. Also provides them Dort insurance if they want to move off of him after next season

They also literally have the most picks out of anybody else in the league because they didn't even have to attach some BS protected pick to get him. So they can easily shore up their other needs via draft, trade, FA. They lost nothing of value from the war chest.

This was a slam dunk for OKC no matter how you slice it unless you're an absolute homer or a complete idiot

Has to be someone that thought the spurs would win 40 games last year

[CGD]

wtf

Great deal. i like it for both sides. I wonder if this means the Bulls have finally picked a damn path!

[Splits]

Chicago: hide your teenagers

[exstatic]

They'll very likely extend Caruso for something reasonable. He's 30 and still has several years of good play left in him. Also provides them Dort insurance if they want to move off of him after next season

They also literally have the most picks out of anybody else in the league because they didn't even have to attach some BS protected pick to get him. So they can easily shore up their other needs via draft, trade, FA. They lost nothing of value from the war chest.

This was a slam dunk for OKC no matter how you slice it unless you're an absolute homer or a complete idiot

We’ll have to disagree on this. They have too many mouths to feed.

[DPG21920]

This is most likely bad for SA. Caruso was a high net+ player for CHI and anything that makes CHI lose games or accelerate a rebuild hurts that chance of getting an extra pick is my guy feeling. But have to see what they do with Lavine + DeRozan + Vuc

[Mugen]

We’ll have to disagree on this. They have too many mouths to feed.

Fair enough. I think they'll end up drafting a big in this upcoming draft, move off of Dort after next season, and extend Caruso.

This is most likely bad for SA. Caruso was a high net+ player for CHI and anything that makes CHI lose games or accelerate a rebuild hurts that chance of getting an extra pick is my guy feeling. But have to see what they do with Lavine + DeRozan + Vuc

Yeah, agreed. Haven't even touched on how this impacts SA but I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first domino in a soft Chicago tank. They won't get much for Lavine if they're able to move him but what happens when DD/Vuc will be very telling on their direction for the next few years. I have a bad feeling that pick isn't conveying next year which sucks because of how loaded the '25 draft is shaping up to be.

[CGD]

I’m kinda shocked at how low OKC sold on Giddey tbh. Caruso is an expiring looking for his last big payday. There is a real chance he walks after this season.

[Atl Spur]

Okc has Dort and Caruso now on the perimeter…..this is a problem