Thunder beef up already-stifling defense with Alex Caruso trade

Oklahoma City led the league in steals and forcing turnovers last season and now they've added one of the most dogged perimeter defenders in the NBA. Somehow they did it without dipping into their massive trove of future draft picks, instead flipping Josh Giddey, the No. 6 overall pick from the 2021 NBA Draft. Now they'll likely try to re-sign Caruso when he becomes extension-eligible in December.

Giddey was the weakest defender of the Thunder's usual starting five. Lu Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have all been difference makers on the defensive side of the ball, but despite Giddey's 6-foot-8 frame, he lacks the athleticism or the skill of his fellow starters.

In the playoffs, Giddey's minutes declined and he lost his starting spot in the Thunder's second-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. With Giddey eligible for a rookie extension this summer, OKC decided to move on from a player who might not be in their immediate or long-term future anymore.

Essentially, the Thunder used one of their best trade chips not to plug a hole, but to double-down on existing strengths. OKC had one of the best defenses in the NBA last season and also the best three-point percentage in the NBA, making 38.9% of their shots behind the arc. Caruso shot 40.8% last season while Giddey was at just 33.7%. 

The Thunder were an excellent team in clutch situations last season. Caruso had 16 steals in the clutch last season, twice as much as the next player. He was also fifth in clutch blocks with eight. Caruso fits in with everything the Thunder already do well, plus provides a veteran presence lacking on the team's roster.

This may just be the beginning of the Thunder's transactions, as they build on a season that saw them grab the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. But it's a strong first move that should make Oklahoma City even more of a nightmare for opposing guards.