The Oklahoma City Thunder had to trade away three key pieces to avoid the second apron, and it puts pressure on Alex Caruso to do more than the veteran guard can handle. Luguentz Dort started 69 games and played 26.6 minutes a night. Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins both appeared in 65-plus contests and averaged over 21 minutes per game. The Thunder are trying to replace 69.6 minutes each night and will struggle to do that without asking Caruso to do more.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the only player to average more than 29 minutes per game on the Thunder. Head coach Mark Daigneault likes to use a deep rotation and limit the playing time of his best players. The starters should see an uptick this season. Even if Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell get 30 minutes per game, that leaves 62 vacant minutes to fill.
The Thunder’s biggest offseason additions were drafting Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz. Young players like Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber will hope to get more consistent opportunities, but OKC wants to win a championship. Rookies rarely impact winning, which means more Caruso will be needed. Sadly, the veteran just can’t handle the workload.
Alex Caruso can’t handle a larger workload with the Thunder
Caruso has a lengthy injury history. The 32-year-old has averaged just 52.5 games per season for his nine-year NBA career and has played 110 in his two seasons with the Thunder. That is with OKC keeping his minutes under 20 per game. They have saved him for the playoffs. If anything, Oklahoma City should limit his minutes more to keep him healthy.
There are several reasons Caruso averages 21.8 minutes per game for his career. His defensive impact is elite, and the veteran has no problem spacing the floor or creating a few easy buckets. Teams would love to scale up his role. Sadly, it just isn’t possible. He is an 18-22 minute-per-game reserve. Playing defense is tiring. Fans know Caruso has no off switch, so it is on the coaching staff to scale him back.
The Thunder need a starter, but Caruso isn’t the answer there. They’d love to expand him to 25 minutes per game. Oklahoma City needs those minutes, but that would risk injury or just being worn down for the playoffs.
Thunder must keep the big picture in mind with Alex Caruso
The regular season doesn’t matter. Only Thunder fans remember OKC was the number one seed in the West in 2024 and 2026. Everyone remembers that they won the championship in 2025. The Mavericks and Spurs are the West’s memorable teams in the other two years because they won the conference.
The Thunder can’t risk giving Caruso 25 minutes every night if it increases the chances he is out during the playoffs. They need him fresh for the most important games. OKC will need Caruso to guard Wemby for spurts and be a game-changer on both ends of the floor. That is what matters. Not beating the Trail Blazers on a random Wednesday night in mid-March.
Oklahoma City doesn’t have another plus shooter capable of playing elite defense and filling whatever role is asked of him behind Caruso. He is a one-of-one option. The Thunder need to maximize his playoff impact if they plan on winning a second title in three years.
Young players will have to step up for the Thunder
OKC will need consistent minutes from Jared McCain, Nikola Topic, and Bennett Stirtz to make up for the departures of Dort, Joe, and Wiggins. They don’t want to put the regular season burden on a 32-year-old veteran. Let the young talent play. Hopefully, they can all prove ready for playoff minutes by April.
McCain was in the rotation after last season’s deadline trade, but the Thunder need the same impact in 25 minutes per game instead of 18. Expect him to bury shots and bring some added offensive punch. The 22-year-old should only get better.
Topic and Stirtz are unproven. Injuries have prevented the 2024 lottery pick from playing more than 160 minutes total in his two NBA seasons. Stirtz is the oldest player of his trio, despite being a rookie. He showed flashes in college, but impacting winning in the NBA is a massive step up in competition.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will need more from Alex Caruso than he can provide. Instead, Coach Daigneault should lean into developing his young guards. It won’t always be beautiful, but they need Caruso most in the playoffs.
Keep his minutes under 20 a night in the regular season and reap the rewards when the games matter most. Take some regular season losses. Those don’t matter. Don’t let the need ruin the bigger picture.
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