Bulls sign Alex Caruso - 4 years, $37 million

InsideInfo · Post #361 » by **InsideInfo** » Mon Nov 29, 2021 4:21 pm

Never understood the Hinrich comparison until I really watched him this season.

TheJordanRule · Post #362 » by **TheJordanRule** » Mon Nov 29, 2021 8:03 pm

Didn't understand the signing at the time, but goddamn do I ever celebrate this incredible decision now! Strong positive player on both ends of the floor. Maybe I am haunted by the days of one dimensional "assigned role" signings... i.e. Ronnie Brewer / Keith Bogans for defense on the perimeter, Kyle Korver for outside shooting, John Lucas III for penetrating and scoring, Mike James for leadership, etc. where that was basically all they could do, but how luxurious is it to have a guy this complete on both ends of the floor?! We definitely picked up a value contract.

Post #363 » by **Michael Jackson** » Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:18 pm

TheJordanRule wrote:Didn't understand the signing at the time, but goddamn do I ever celebrate this incredible decision now! Strong positive player on both ends of the floor. Maybe I am haunted by the days of one dimensional "assigned role" signings... i.e. Ronnie Brewer / Keith Bogans for defense on the perimeter, Kyle Korver for outside shooting, John Lucas III for penetrating and scoring, Mike James for leadership, etc. where that was basically all they could do, but how luxurious is it to have a guy this complete on both ends of the floor?! We definitely picked up a value contract.

I get that but man I was sad to see Korver go

sco · Post #364 » by **sco** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 6:24 pm

Just wanted to give AC a shoutout, not for his continuing outstanding defense (deserves a spot on the all defensive team), but his PG play. While Zo is amazing in the full court, AC has been our best 1/2 court PG, averaging 4.5 AST and 1.2 TO's this month. He has been very crafty navigating in the paint. What makes our pair so great is that they both have games that allow them to both be on the court together without us giving up anything - both being able to be on or off-ball and able to defend 1-4.

MAQ · Post #365 » by **MAQ** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 7:57 pm

InsideInfo wrote:Never understood the Hinrich comparison until I really watched him this season.

He doesnt remind me much of Hinrich at all besides skin color and position.

Both were/are great defenders. Great positional defenders but Caruso is also much more physical and quick with his hands whereas Hinrich could deal with a bigger guard but not a forward or center and his hands werent nearly as quick.

Both limited offensively however Hinrich the more consistent shooter and Caruso the stronger and more creative driver/finisher at the rim.

In fact, Caruso's shooting is the one aspect I'd like to see a large improvement in. Hes pretty much the only shooter off of the bench who is also a plus defensively (Coby is not a plus defensively). I'd like to see more attempts and more consistency.

madvillian · Post #366 » by **madvillian** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 8:03 pm

I'm surprised that while not a great passer (he's adequate for a guard) he's fine being the primary ball handler for 10 minutes a game or so and that really helps Zach and Demar and Lonzo conserve their energy and to keep the offensive flow going when they are out.

InsideInfo · Post #367 » by **InsideInfo** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:58 pm

MAQ wrote:
InsideInfo wrote:Never understood the Hinrich comparison until I really watched him this season.

He doesnt remind me much of Hinrich at all besides skin color and position.

Both were/are great defenders. Great positional defenders but Caruso is also much more physical and quick with his hands whereas Hinrich could deal with a bigger guard but not a forward or center and his hands werent nearly as quick.

Both limited offensively however Hinrich the more consistent shooter and Caruso the stronger and more creative driver/finisher at the rim.

In fact, Caruso's shooting is the one aspect I'd like to see a large improvement in. Hes pretty much the only shooter off of the bench who is also a plus defensively (Coby is not a plus defensively). I'd like to see more attempts and more consistency.

Im not saying they are the same player at all.

I never saw any comparison until i watched him play for the bulls. But you said it yourself. Both offensively limited, scrappy good on ball defenders, same size and position.

Post #368 » by **HomoSapien** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:29 pm

This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

step · Post #369 » by **step** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 11:37 pm

HomoSapien wrote:This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

Post #370 » by **HomoSapien** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 11:48 pm

step wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

It reminds me a little of when Jon Barry and Bobby Jackson joined the Kings. Those guys were just great role players and helped give the Kings an identity. Obviously everyone gives guys like Vlade, Webber, and Williams a bulk of that credit, but I always felt like Barry and Jackson helped set their culture. Caruso is similar. Everyone focus (deservedly) on the additions DeRozan and Ball, but AC has been huge.

And I agree, I was initially skeptical of the signing but it's a great, great deal.

sco · Post #371 » by **sco** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 11:54 pm

HomoSapien wrote:
step wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

It reminds me a little of when Jon Barry and Bobby Jackson joined the Kings. Those guys were just great role players and helped give the Kings an identity. Obviously everyone gives guys like Vlade, Webber, and Williams a bulk of that credit, but I always felt like Barry and Jackson helped set their culture. Caruso is similar. Everyone focus (deservedly) on the additions DeRozan and Ball, but AC has been huge.

And I agree, I was initially skeptical of the signing but it's a great, great deal.

I see Ball/Caruso like Bradley/Crowder on those really good Celtics teams. The Celts were never quite the same after losing them.

jordanwilliams6 · Post #372 » by **jordanwilliams6** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 12:01 am

sco wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:
step wrote:And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

It reminds me a little of when Jon Barry and Bobby Jackson joined the Kings. Those guys were just great role players and helped give the Kings an identity. Obviously everyone gives guys like Vlade, Webber, and Williams a bulk of that credit, but I always felt like Barry and Jackson helped set their culture. Caruso is similar. Everyone focus (deservedly) on the additions DeRozan and Ball, but AC has been huge.

And I agree, I was initially skeptical of the signing but it's a great, great deal.

I see Ball/Caruso like Bradley/Crowder on those really good Celtics teams. The Celts were never quite the same after losing them.

The beauty is we have them locked up for another 3 years on pretty good deals. Let's just hope this becomes the start of a long and successful culture change within the group.

iqureshi · Post #373 » by **iqureshi** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 12:03 am

InsideInfo wrote:Never understood the Hinrich comparison until I really watched him this season.

I read somewhere Caruso is everything Bulls fans thought Kirk Hinrich was.

MisterRoy · Post #374 » by **MisterRoy** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 12:05 am

jordanwilliams6 wrote:
sco wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:
It reminds me a little of when Jon Barry and Bobby Jackson joined the Kings. Those guys were just great role players and helped give the Kings an identity. Obviously everyone gives guys like Vlade, Webber, and Williams a bulk of that credit, but I always felt like Barry and Jackson helped set their culture. Caruso is similar. Everyone focus (deservedly) on the additions DeRozan and Ball, but AC has been huge.

And I agree, I was initially skeptical of the signing but it's a great, great deal.

I see Ball/Caruso like Bradley/Crowder on those really good Celtics teams. The Celts were never quite the same after losing them.

The beauty is we have them locked up for another 3 years on pretty good deals. Let's just hope this becomes the start of a long and successful culture change within the group.

I would hope that AK plans on bringing him back. Can't let someone like him go.

Sent from somewhere you've never been.

step · Post #375 » by **step** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 12:22 am

iqureshi wrote:
InsideInfo wrote:Never understood the Hinrich comparison until I really watched him this season.

I read somewhere Caruso is everything Bulls fans thought Kirk Hinrich was.

Quite possibly. However, I don't agree on the Hinrich comparison... not to discredit Hinrich at all, but I feel Caruso is alot more disruptive. Both are phenomenal defenders, but Caruso has a nack of reading the plays and disrupting the passing lanes. Kirk never had/did that.

kodo · Post #376 » by **kodo** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 1:04 am

step wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

Really you think it's a slight overpay? He gets the same money as Delon Wright.

SHO'NUFF · Post #377 » by **SHO'NUFF** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 1:36 am

kodo wrote:
step wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

Really you think it's a slight overpay? He gets the same money as Delon Wright.

And only 5 million more than Felicio.

Post #378 » by **HomoSapien** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 1:40 am

SHO'NUFF wrote:
kodo wrote:
step wrote:And usually with FA signings there is a slight overpay... all I can say is I'm really happy with this deal & signing.

Really you think it's a slight overpay? He gets the same money as Delon Wright.

And only 5 million more than Felicio.

He's saying there's usually and overpay for new FA additions, but that we got him on a good deal.

step · Post #379 » by **step** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 2:50 am

HomoSapien wrote:
SHO'NUFF wrote:
kodo wrote:
Really you think it's a slight overpay? He gets the same money as Delon Wright.

And only 5 million more than Felicio.

He's saying there's usually an overpay for new FA additions, but that we got him on a good deal.

Correct.

Jo Jo English · Post #380 » by **Jo Jo English** » Wed Dec 1, 2021 5:27 am

I will be the first to admit that when the Bulls signed Caruso this summer I was caught off guard. As much as I try to keep up with the league, there are teams in those other time zones that I don't watch as closely as I should, and that means I am a bit in the dark as to some of those under the radar guys on that side.

I was excited when I watched his highlights and I was super encouraged when I read the comments from Lakers fans. He is everything I hoped he would be and then some. He is better at the things I thought he was good at, but I cannot state it better than this...

HomoSapien wrote:This has turned out to be a phenomenal signing. Aside from being a heck of a role player, he's been a culture setter as well.

That sums it up. Caruso is a "culture setter." It helps that he joined a team that just added a professional like DeRozan and a pass-first, defensive-minded youngster in Ball, but Caruso is a guy that sets the tone. A guy that can change the flow of a game whether he plays 14 minutes or 28. Things can turn around quickly on a roster when you add guys like that.

He was a huge addition.