This summer, the OKC Thunder opted to dial up their win-now approach to 2024-25 by adding a few pivotal producers to their talent arsenal in the form of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.
When it comes to both of these ballers, one can easily decipher what their primary roles on the team will be -- for the former, it's adding size, physicality, and rebounding to their frontcourt rotation while the latter is slated to bring elite 3-and-D abilities and championship experience.
However, what they can provide outside of their expected core contributions will make this newly attained tandem all the more beneficial to Oklahoma City. For Caruso, this could very well come in the form of distribution and offensive facilitation.
OKC Thunder need Alex Caruso to provide play-making, set-up skills
When the Thunder executed the trade to land Caruso back in late June, it was revered by both fans and pundits as one of the best moves made throughout the entire summer. As we approach just over a month from the regular season's tip-off, this still seems to be the consensus opinion.
However, not all effects from this transaction were positive for Oklahoma City, for they were forced to part ways with former lottery pick Josh Giddey who, though was not as seamless of a fit within this club's rotation as Caruso projects to be, served as their best facilitator and set-up artist throughout his three-year tenure.
Dating back to his arrival in 2021, the Australian-born baller has dished out 9.5 dimes for his career per 100 possessions and boasted a 29.5 assist percentage, both the best marks on the team throughout this span compared to other primary contributors.
Now, with him in Chicago, the Thunder find themselves not only with a void in the distribution department but also at their primary backup point guard spot behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a role Giddey was slated to fill in 2024-25 before his move to the Windy City.
On the roster, there are currently no true one guards in their possession but, rather, a slew of combos and natural twos. Caruso falls into this category of player.
Despite his technical position, the veteran will likely need to play more on-ball and serve as a quarterback on the court at a higher rate than in years past.
Since coming to the Bulls back in 2021-22, Caruso has been predominantly used off-ball, though has shown flashes of being capable of running an offense at times, especially over the last two seasons while stud floor general, Lonzo Ball has remained sidelined due to injury.
Over this stretch, the 30-year-old has averaged 6.0 assists per 100 possessions.
While his turnover rate could use for some refining (16.6 since 2022-23), it seems likely that during his first season with the OKC Thunder, Alex Caruso will be tasked with serving as the primary backup at point guard behind the likes of SGA.
How well with this experiment fair? Only time will tell.