The Los Angeles Lakers’ choice to not sign Alex Car in the summer of 2021 has subsequently been regarded by the NBA community as one of their most perplexing decisions in recent memory.  In the present, Caruso has emerged as a key member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have fought their way to the Conference Finals this year.

At the time, the Lakers had a fantastic chance to sign the unrelenting guard to a four-year contract at roughly $35 million, which today seems more like a deal than a luxury for one of the NBA’s most dynamic and versatile role players.

Instead, Lakers executive Rob Pelinka saw Caruso taken away by the Chicago Bulls.  Caruso didn’t arrive in Oklahoma City until 2024, but since then, he has been a game-changer for a squad that went into the playoffs with the best record in the league.

Since leaving Los Angeles, Caruso has not only kept up but also improved his talent.  He is a mainstay on both ends of the court thanks to his aggressive defensive presence, keen court awareness, and adaptability.  In the tense moments of OKC’s Game 7 matchup with the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals, he even took on the difficult duty of guarding Nikola Jokic, who is perhaps the best center and a towering basketball monster.

 Caruso was only 26 when the Lakers said goodbye to him.  With a strong career average of 37.6% from beyond the arc and a combination of seasoned experience and a reliable perimeter shooting, he is currently in his athletic prime at the age of thirty.

Caruso’s shooting ability, dynamic explosiveness, and defensive toughness would have been a game-changer for a team like the Lakers, who have struggled with perimeter inconsistencies in recent years.

In the Orlando bubble, it should come as no surprise that Caruso had a key role in the Lakers’ successful 2020 championship pursuit.  He produced important plays and defended across positions as a vital sixth player.  Beyond the numbers, LeBron James, who has publicly bemoaned Caruso’s absence from the Crypto.com Arena, loved him for his contagious enthusiasm, tenacity, and capacity to strengthen the team’s defense.

 In conclusion, the Lakers may not have fully recognized Caruso’s real value, but they tossed the dice by letting go of a crucial cog in the wheel.  Other teams, meanwhile, quickly realized his worth and incorporated him into their plans to win a title.