Six months ago, on June 21, the Thunder made waves by trading Josh Giddey to land Alex Caruso in a move nobody saw coming. Now, as of this Saturday morning, Caruso is officially eligible for a contract extension—one that could go up to $81.1 million over four years. On Sunday night, Caruso reportedly locked in that four-year, $81 million extension bag with the Thunder, his agent revealed to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The team confirmed the deal later that evening but stayed quiet about the specifics of the agreement.

Shams also dropped a tad bit of data, captioning, “Caruso is among NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, ranking in top five in deflections, field-goal % allowed as contesting defender and points per direct pick allowed as ball-handler defender, per ESPN Research.” Well, the hoopster’s new contract is set to run through 2028-29, keeping him out of free agency.

One may now ask, what’s this got to do with the Lakers? Rolling back the calendar to 2021, the Bulls swooped in during free agency and plucked him from the Lakers. At the time, no one could’ve guessed he’d evolve into one of the NBA’s most valuable trade pieces. But here we are.

Alex Caruso’s journey is a true underdog story. After going undrafted from Texas A&M in 2017, he started with the Thunder’s G League team. He then spent his first 4 seasons in the NBA with the LA Lakers, where he helped secure a championship in 2020.

After that, Caruso moved to Chicago, where he spent 3 seasons before being traded to Oklahoma City last summer in exchange for Giddey. It’s wild to think how far he’s come, from a G League player to a title winner and now a key figure in the Thunder’s future.

Lakers Nation still regrets letting Alex Caruso go for “nothing”

Fans reacted to this news quickly. One fan wrote, “The Lakers could really use a solid role player like him *laughing emoji*”. Since his departure, the Purple and Gold have struggled to find a player who mirrors Caruso’s unique blend of tenacity, defensive prowess, and hustle. In his time in LA, Caruso was the glue guy—a versatile defender and unselfish playmaker who excelled in high-pressure moments.

Another user commented, “Everyone gets better after leaving the Lakers”. After his departure in 2021, Caruso has undeniably leveled up, going from an underrated role player in Los Angeles to a key contributor and defensive standout in the league.

While the Lakers leaned heavily on his hustle and perimeter defense during their 2020 championship run, his move to the Bulls allowed him to expand his game quite exponentially. Alex Caruso evolved into one of the NBA’s top defenders, earning All-Defensive Team honors and becoming a leader on and off the court.

“Lakers let him walk for nothing,” wrote a netizen. In 2021, the Lakers chose not to match the Bulls’ four-year, $37 million offer, letting him walk despite his critical defensive contributions. This Rob Pelinka-Jeanie Buss decision raised eyebrows, especially given the LA side’s well-documented struggles with depth and defense in the seasons since.

Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss, often praised for their big-splash moves, faced criticism for letting a proven role player slip away over financial concerns. It’s a decision that continues to fuel debates about prioritizing star power over team balance in Los Angeles.

Caruso’s role in the 2020 Lakers championship run can’t be overstated. That’s why a fan wrote, “As a Lakers fan, I say 😢”. He was the ultimate glue guy, diving for loose balls, locking down perimeter threats, and making smart plays that often went unnoticed on the stat sheet. For Lakers fans, it’s a bittersweet reminder of what could’ve been if they had kept him in the Purple and Gold ranks.

Another fan just said two words. And it was enough. “Lakers goofed” might be short, but it speaks volumes about how Alex’s departure has been perceived. Letting him walk in 2021 for nothing more than cap flexibility remains one of the most puzzling moves in recent Lakers history.

The decision looks even worse in hindsight.

Since Alex Caruso’s exit, the Lakers have struggled with defensive consistency, and their bench has lacked the same grit and energy. Proving his worth with an $81 million extension in OKC, for fans, it’s hard not to label this as a BIG misstep by the LA management.