NBA Trade Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers could pursue former difference-making guard?
It’s been a relatively uneven start to the season for the Los Angeles Lakers. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Lakers are 3-4. Individually, Anthony Davis and LeBron James have gotten off to excellent starts. But the Lakers, once again, find themselves in a place where on most nights, they lack the necessary production from their supporting cast.
The Lakers have one of the lowest-scoring benches in the league at the moment. In an attempt to help fix that, it wouldn’t be all that surprising for the Lakers to explore the trade market at some point before the deadline. In fact, at this point, it would be surprising if they didn’t.
The question is, who could they target that would make as much of a difference that would tangibly alter the ceiling for the Lakers heading into the push toward the postseason?
Who could the Los Angeles Lakers pursue via trade?
According to a report from Heavy.com, there’s a growing belief around the league that the Lakers could pursue an old face. That potential difference-making old face is Alex Caruso. With just two years remaining on his contract (including this season), there’s a chance that he could become available on the trade market heading into the deadline. Especially if the Bulls continue to struggle and float around mediocrity in the Eastern Conference.
There’s a very real chance that the Bulls end up pivoting hard by the time the NBA Trade Deadline rolls around.
If that does end up being the case, Caruso is going to be a player that many contenders around the league will be asking for. And from a basketball perspective, Caruso makes a lot of sense for a team like the Lakers.
He’d add some much-needed toughness off the bench. Caruso is also a winning player who does all the dirty work needed in order for a team to be successful. He’s one of those players that you hate to play against but love when he’s on your team.
Through the first eight games of the season, Caruso is averaging six points, four rebounds, and three assists per game on 54 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Considering the Lakers struggles with consistency from their backcourt, it wouldn’t be the least surprising if they targeted a guard at the trade deadline. And if Caruso is available, he’d be a logical target for the Lakers.