Caruso: I gave the Lakers multiple chances to keep me, offered to take paycut

[jordanwilliams6]

Caruso has been a turnover prone defensive liability in Chicago that is currently a net negative.

I think the Lakers projection for him are going to turn out to be accurate - that his new team was going to overpay him and his Chicago contract is going to be the biggest contract of his career. He may even end up back on the Lakers for the minimum after the Bulls.

In other words, the Lakers offer was fair and actually generous because AC is not really even worth 2 years $15 million. He's absolutely not worth what the Bulls are paying him which is close to $10 million per season.

The Lakers got the best value out of Caruso and Chicago will get the worst value out of Caruso.



Another reason why the Lakers win here is because Austin Reaves has replaced Caruso on an undrafted rookie salary and he's already better than Caruso.

You can just tell when people are stat whores.

As a Bulls fan, Caruso has been great. He’s exactly the type of player we needed and he’s fitting in great with everyone.

[Johnny Bball]

Caruso has been a turnover prone defensive liability in Chicago that is currently a net negative.

I think the Lakers projection for him are going to turn out to be accurate - that his new team was going to overpay him and his Chicago contract is going to be the biggest contract of his career. He may even end up back on the Lakers for the minimum after the Bulls.

In other words, the Lakers offer was fair and actually generous because AC is not really even worth 2 years $15 million. He's absolutely not worth what the Bulls are paying him which is close to $10 million per season.

The Lakers got the best value out of Caruso and Chicago will get the worst value out of Caruso.



Another reason why the Lakers win here is because Austin Reaves has replaced Caruso on an undrafted rookie salary and he's already better than Caruso.

Caruso being a net negative on defense is not something I'd have expected.

Expected huh? That’s because net negative tends to be just a trash term used by people that don’t understand on/off stats, that need to say something…. But Caruso is still the same decent defender.

[chitownsports4ever]

Caruso has been a turnover prone defensive liability in Chicago that is currently a net negative.

I think the Lakers projection for him are going to turn out to be accurate - that his new team was going to overpay him and his Chicago contract is going to be the biggest contract of his career. He may even end up back on the Lakers for the minimum after the Bulls.

In other words, the Lakers offer was fair and actually generous because AC is not really even worth 2 years $15 million. He's absolutely not worth what the Bulls are paying him which is close to $10 million per season.

The Lakers got the best value out of Caruso and Chicago will get the worst value out of Caruso.



Another reason why the Lakers win here is because Austin Reaves has replaced Caruso on an undrafted rookie salary and he's already better than Caruso.

hahah ummm no this is what happens when you try and simply go by stats instead of watching the games .

[JN61]

LeBron isn't as good GM as people make him to be.

[mowcrowbar]

Lets be real here. Dudes a rotation player and that's it. He is a nice sideshow attraction and good for the shock value, but the Lakers are not going to kick themselves for letting him go.

[Slava]

Caruso has been a turnover prone defensive liability in Chicago that is currently a net negative.

I think the Lakers projection for him are going to turn out to be accurate - that his new team was going to overpay him and his Chicago contract is going to be the biggest contract of his career. He may even end up back on the Lakers for the minimum after the Bulls.

In other words, the Lakers offer was fair and actually generous because AC is not really even worth 2 years $15 million. He's absolutely not worth what the Bulls are paying him which is close to $10 million per season.

The Lakers got the best value out of Caruso and Chicago will get the worst value out of Caruso.



Another reason why the Lakers win here is because Austin Reaves has replaced Caruso on an undrafted rookie salary and he's already better than Caruso.

Caruso being a net negative on defense is not something I'd have expected.

Expected huh? That’s because net negative tends to be just a trash term used by people that don’t understand on/off stats, that need to say something…. But Caruso is still the same decent defender.

Its a clear reverse trend from his last 4 seasons as you can see from that image. If anything, I'd have expected him to be down offensively a Chicago has no depth and he struggles without a primary creator like LeBron.

[KnicksGadfly]

Lets be real here. Dudes a rotation player and that's it. He is a nice sideshow attraction and good for the shock value, but the Lakers are not going to kick themselves for letting him go.

That’s true. Why kick yourself over Caruso when you can kick yourself over Westbrook?

[Overhere]

I'm 100% sure that using on/off stats 10 games into a new season, on a new team, and likely without watching any games to contexualize anything isn't the way to determine player worth. The Bulls are/will be fine with Caruso.

Anyways, back to the Lakers nation offseason struggle session.

[HMFFL]

Not sure if already posted. If so please merge or delete. I actually feel for Caruso. I think he’s been a huge loss defensively. He’s been very appreciated in Chicago, so it worked out. Still sucks he didn’t feel wanted despite playing the way he did for the Lakers.

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The GOAT will not be merciful.

I respect his loyality but he found out there was never any for him. Now, LA with Russ has been disappointing, and they loss Caruso who was always down for LA.

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[OrangeBlueSkies]

Caruso has been a turnover prone defensive liability in Chicago that is currently a net negative.

I think the Lakers projection for him are going to turn out to be accurate - that his new team was going to overpay him and his Chicago contract is going to be the biggest contract of his career. He may even end up back on the Lakers for the minimum after the Bulls.

In other words, the Lakers offer was fair and actually generous because AC is not really even worth 2 years $15 million. He's absolutely not worth what the Bulls are paying him which is close to $10 million per season.

The Lakers got the best value out of Caruso and Chicago will get the worst value out of Caruso.



Another reason why the Lakers win here is because Austin Reaves has replaced Caruso on an undrafted rookie salary and he's already better than Caruso.

I like Caruso but you’re right.

& I really hate the overreaction to a very young season as to whether the lakers made the right choice or not.

All I know is that regardless of the lakers winning or losing, they’re must see TV for the entire season. Which is money in the bank for the Buss family


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DING DING DING

[Hello Brooklyn]

I understand the Lakers not wanting to pay him. But why pay THT instead?

I don't understand why they think hes good.

[Lunartic]

Anyone that thinks Caruso is "net-negatively" bad on defense is just someone that doesn't understand defense.

He has been the Bull's 2nd best defensive player and the Bulls are top-5 defensively. He also has the highest TS% of his career thus far with the Bulls. He is absolutely worth 10m a season and every single team in the league (other than the Lakers apparently) would love to have him.

[ATRAIN53]

I did a hard WTF when thew Bulls signed him 4/36

but 9 million per year for a role player who knows his role and has championship experience seems to be the going price.

I'd like to hear LeBrons take on this.
Like once you're a LeBron guy, he finds a way to keep you around.

Guy knows he can't get the minutes to do a one year Prove it deal.
No one is gonna sign him for like 20 million per.

If he had a shot maybe he could have netted a deal like Davis Bertans @ 15
He can shoot the 3 good enough, plays better D and a lot more cap friedly than Bertans.


I think the Bulls got a good deal on a guy who is becoming a fan fav off the bench.
+ he likes the weed, so he's a dude you can party with.

[Jcool0]

Caruso has been a turnover prone defensive liability in Chicago that is currently a net negative.

I think the Lakers projection for him are going to turn out to be accurate - that his new team was going to overpay him and his Chicago contract is going to be the biggest contract of his career. He may even end up back on the Lakers for the minimum after the Bulls.

In other words, the Lakers offer was fair and actually generous because AC is not really even worth 2 years $15 million. He's absolutely not worth what the Bulls are paying him which is close to $10 million per season.

The Lakers got the best value out of Caruso and Chicago will get the worst value out of Caruso.



Another reason why the Lakers win here is because Austin Reaves has replaced Caruso on an undrafted rookie salary and he's already better than Caruso.

Caruso being a net negative on defense is not something I'd have expected.

Hes not

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[Loneshot]

I am pretty annoyed that the Lakers traded away so many young and talented players for that one bubble title. The Lakers are never patient about grooming players; they have a win-now mentality and it has paid off in the past, but when it doesn't, the whole organization looks sloppy and over confident about leaning on star power.

[HoopsterJones]

Caruso’s worth every cent of his contract. He’s been everything we needed off the bench as a backup defensive wing/PG with intangibles and some scoring (could be better). He is averaging 2.3 Steals per game off the bench and has 1.7 DBPM and often draws the defensive assignment of the opposing team’s primary ball handler when in the floor. He is absolutely not a net negative on defense.

[Pharmcat]

Lets be real here. Dudes a rotation player and that's it. He is a nice sideshow attraction and good for the shock value, but the Lakers are not going to kick themselves for letting him go.

Lakers have no rotation players outside their big 2. They should have traded for hield and kept Caruso . Their team is a disaster currently .

[ConSarnit]

You have to feel bad for small market teams like the Lakers having to pinch pennies. It’s not like they have some massive local tv deal like other big market franchises.

[TheFinishSniper]

Caruso is one of best players on Bulls teams. I dont give a damn what stats say. He is one of biggest reasons this team is clicking on defense. And his leadership on the floor gives team sense of being accountable on every play. Because Bulls beside DeRozan dont have many true vets. You can say Lavine is veteran but he doesnt have that championship experience or deep playoff run. We not counting Olympics.

His contract is bargain. And I am glad he is Bull. Because we needed guy like that. Specially if were losing Theis in process.

[Liam_Gallagher]

Let's not forget how bad he was in the playoffs last year. Lakers had to give Wes Matthews a ton of burn because Caruso was so bad.