Bulls reportedly have no interest in trading this guard
If the Chicago Bulls decide to reset their roster before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, it's unlikely they will include Alex Caruso in any of those moves.
Caruso has been a huge success for the Bulls. His combative playing style, accountability and versatile skill set make him the ideal locker-room leader to help lead a roster full of young and inexperienced talent.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Bulls have been shutting down any inquiries surrounding Caruso's availability throughout the season.
"A bevy of teams has been expressing interest in trading for Bulls utility star Alex Caruso, league sources say, but the franchise has shut down those calls," Charania reported.
Caruso is a fan favorite in Chicago, the same way he was with the Los Angeles Lakers. Fans love a player who's willing to put his body on the line.
They love it when they can see that commitment on the court, and they appreciate it when a player has a team-first mentality. Caruso embodies all of those things and is widely viewed as a "winning" player by fans and media around the league.
There's an argument to be made that Caruso could be Chicago's most tradable player. His $9.4M salary is affordable for most teams in the NBA. His contract only has one more season to run, which is also only partially guaranteed, and he can slot into any rotation in the NBA while making a positive impact.
Caruso is the ideal role player, both for contending and rebuilding rosters.
Whether Chicago is steadfast in its desire to retain Caruso or is looking to raise his value by marking him as off-limits remains to be seen. The Bulls are bereft of tradable assets, so they need to replenish their war chest however they can.
It's unlikely that Chicago has any player earmarked as truly untouchable, especially a player with 18 months left on his deal.
Yet, it's clear Caruso's value isn't lost upon the front office. If Billy Donovan wants a veteran to help lead a potential new roster, it makes sense that it would be the versatile 29-year-old Texas A&M product, but is that in the best interest of the Bulls?
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