Thunder guard predicted to be legitimate DPOY candidate (and it's not Lu Dort)

For years now, the OKC Thunder have found themselves boasting one of the most staunch defensive backcourts the game has to offer thanks, in large, to the efforts of veteran Luguentz Dort.

Throughout his six-year career, the Arizona State product has built up a reputation as being one of the toughest matchups for opposing offensive players to square off against. Yet, year after year, he finds himself on the outside looking in on both All-Defensive Team nods as well as when it comes to yielding any attention in the Defensive Player of the Year awards race.

While the 2024-25 campaign is still extremely young, just based on how things have played out in years past, it's quite plausible that Dort may once again be omitted from these types of honors and accolades come season's end, though, interestingly enough, one of his newest running mates is already being predicted as a legitimate threat to take home the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.

Thunder guard Alex Caruso predicted to finish top-three in DPOY race

In a recent piece penned by Bleacher Report, Andy Bailey made a list of "hot take" predictions for the top names across the league who find themselves suiting up for new ball clubs this year.

Starting things off, the seasoned writer jumped right into what Alex Caruso's fate with the Thunder may be and noted that there's a possibility that he could be a realistic threat to take home the DPOY award. In fact, he has the veteran placing within the top three come year's end.

Citing a potential "pushback on bigs having such a stranglehold" on the award following Minnesota Timberwolves' star, Rudy Gobert's fourth win since 2018, Bailey believes that voters may be enthusiastic about switching things up by getting "some less conventional options in the conversation."

Slotting in a guard, and especially a non-star like Caruso into the mix could very well constitute as so, and a guy like Alex Caruso could be a realistic candidate to enter into the conversation.

As stated by Bailey, the 30-year-old is "one of the league's best and most dynamic perimeter defenders" thanks to his quick hands in the passing lanes (1.6 steals per game since 2021-22), impeccable timing in the blocks department (has averaged 1.0 blocks per game over the last two seasons), and underrated strength.

Unlike Dort, Caruso has already seen his efforts rewarded by the vote-casters. He's been named to two separate All-Defensive Teams and has placed in the top 11 in the Defensive Player of the Year awards race twice.

Bailey's logic is quite sound in his prediction that the eighth-year pro could be a legitimate threat to take home the illustrious moniker during his first year with the Thunder, as overall team defense has become more of a factor when pinpointing a winner.

As discovered in one of our recent pieces, you'd have to go all the way back to 2006-07 to find a DPOY recipient who was attached to a sub-top-10 defensive unit.

Being the Thunder placed fourth in Defensive Rating just last season and are already off to an incredible start on this end of the floor in 2024-25, one should expect to see them place highly yet again as a collective which, should this happen, would only improve Caruso's (as well as Dort and Chet Holmgren, for that matter) chances of being found in the mix.

Bailey says fans should "expect" to hear the veteran's name mentioned, "a lot more than you typically have in this conversation." Hopefully, this prediction will wind up translating into a reality!