The Oklahoma City Thunder shored up their dominant defense Sunday, finalizing a four-year, $81 million deal with veteran guard Alex Caruso and continuing their plan for long-term title contention in the process.
The deal, first reported by ESPN and confirmed to The Athletic by Caruso’s agent, Greg Lawrence of Wasserman, has no options and runs through the 2028-29 season.
Caruso, the 30-year old who has long been considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the game, was traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Thunder last summer in exchange for Josh Giddey. Caruso is currently the NBA’s leader in deflections (3.7 per game) and tied for seventh in steals (1.9). The Thunder, in part thanks to Caruso, have the league’s best defensive rating by a massive margin, allowing just 103 points per 100 possessions. (Houston is second at 105.6).
Oklahoma City (22-5), which has the best record in the Western Conference and second-best in the league behind Cleveland, has built this roster with some of the most impactful defenders in the game. From relentless defensive specialists like veteran guard Luguentz Dort, to elite rim protectors like Chet Holmgren (who is currently out with a hip injury), and stars like MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, longtime general manager Sam Presti and his staff have compiled as much, if not more, two-way talent as any team in the league.
Not surprisingly, the Thunder’s front office was recently voted as the NBA’s best in an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic.
Required reading:
- How playing without a center made the Thunder even more dangerous
- Young NBA teams are rarely good on defense. What is the surging Thunder’s secret?
- Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade grades: Thunder add defense, shooting; Bulls get younger
- Gone in a blink: The inside story of Alex Caruso’s departure from the Lakers
(Top photo: Rhona Wise / Imagn)
