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THUNDER
In:R.Hachimura
Out:A.Caruso

The Thunder need more size at Wing.. especially if he can shoot the 3 over 40%.. This trade gives them financial flexibility and theoretically more availability.. AC misses a lot of games/year due to injury and they are perfectly covered in his role with Cason/Dort


LAKERS
In:Caruso
Out: Hachimura

The Lakers, loaded on the wings, need an elite defender more... and AC is elite there, he is also a player who knows the house, so the adaptation should be quick

thoughts???

Astaluego wrote:THUNDER
In:R.Hachimura
Out:A.Caruso

The Thunder need more size at Wing.. especially if he can shoot the 3 over 40%.. This trade gives them financial flexibility and theoretically more availability.. AC misses a lot of games/year due to injury and they are perfectly covered in his role with Cason/Dort


LAKERS
In:Caruso
Out: Hachimura

The Lakers, loaded on the wings, need an elite defender more... and AC is elite there, he is also a player who knows the house, so the adaptation should be quick

thoughts???

Would love this from LAs point of view, but i kinda doubt the thunder would be interested.

Rui would make sense with the Thunder, though, and his size, skill and shooting would fit very well alongside both Chet and Hartenstein. And ACs contract is somewhat steep (4/80) for someone who essentially is a roleplayer - especially when you have guys like Dort and Cason Wallace doing some of the same stuff.

DOnt see why OKC would entertain this at all. Caruso is leaps and bounds better than Rui

No reason for OKC to consider this.

It is an easy yes from OKC. Move Caruso now why he has value. At his age and length of contract no reason to keep him around with other young guards to play.

Yeah this is just a Lakers pipedream to turn a worse player into a better one while offering zero incentive.

louc1970 wrote:It is an easy yes from OKC. Move Caruso now why he has value. At his age and length of contract no reason to keep him around with other young guards to play.

OKC gave Caruso this extension two months ago. I doubt they've got buyer's remorse on it already.

louc1970 wrote:It is an easy yes from OKC. Move Caruso now why he has value. At his age and length of contract no reason to keep him around with other young guards to play.

If they were to move him for value, then why would they salary dump him for an expiring Rui?

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Caruso this year has drastically dropped in effeciency and missed 20 games already, Rui has been legit rotation (fringe starter great backup) for a year and a half and is 4 years younger.
It's not a far fetched deal, in fact there are scenarios where I see LAL not doing it.

This seems like a reasonable deal actually.

Rui is an excellent finisher and has shown to continue his ability in the playoffs. I think OKC have this need.

Lakers ok other hand could do with guard defense upgrade.

Gimme rui over caruso. Don't see this for LA

I don't actually like Caruso at 4/$80M but someone will offer more than a mediocre player on an expiring.

HornetJail wrote:I don't actually like Caruso at 4/$80M but someone will offer more than a mediocre player on an expiring.

Hachimura is 3 years younger, has played 12 more games, is bigger and more athletic... while he is shooting a career-best 3-point percentage (43%) on increased volume, one would think he is on a clear upward trajectory as he enters his prime... AC on the other hand is shooting 32% from 3, the worst since his rookie season, while they have their role covered perfectly... I wouldn't call a starter in the 4/5 seed in the West mediocre either

Astaluego wrote:

HornetJail wrote:I don't actually like Caruso at 4/$80M but someone will offer more than a mediocre player on an expiring.

Hachimura is 3 years younger, has played 12 more games, is bigger and more athletic... while he is shooting a career-best 3-point percentage (43%) on increased volume, one would think he is on a clear upward trajectory as he enters his prime... AC on the other hand is shooting 32% from 3, the worst since his rookie season, while they have their role covered perfectly... I wouldn't call a starter in the 4/5 seed in the West mediocre either

Yeah in 2 seasons with the Lakers he's played 150 games. He's averaging 41% from 3 and 61% TS overall while contributing to 2 gained possessions per 100 (OREB+STL-TO).
His numbers in the playoffs are even better, which is rare.

He's an average defender on 4s and 5s but his main limitation is that he's below average on 3s, he's not good at chasing movement shooters and he's not a rim protector.

He'd honestly be an ideal 4 next to Wemby.

I'd say no from this OKC fans perspective. Nothing against Hachimura, who I think could be a good piece off the bench in similar mpg to Caruso. But Caruso is absolutely devastating in OKC's defensive system. He is a guy that has proven the capability to change the momentum of games for us. I just think he is a higher impact player for winning.

Unfortunately I don't think OKC has ideal salary to trade for a player like Rui that would make both teams happy.

Dont see it for lakers. Caruso is an overpayed roleplayer on that contract going into the dusk of his career and already starting to drop off. If its like kleber/vandebildt i can see taking on the contract

Apz wrote:Dont see it for lakers. Caruso is an overpayed roleplayer on that contract going into the dusk of his career and already starting to drop off. If its like kleber/vandebildt i can see taking on the contract

OKC has more than enough draft capital to upgrade Caruso if they want.