Bulls’ Alex Caruso Still Thinks About ‘What Could’ve Been’ with Lakers Before Trade | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso can’t help but think of what could have been with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Caruso, who began his career with the Lakers before joining the Bulls as a free agent in 2021, told Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sorts that he “definitely” wonders what the Purple and Gold could have achieved had he stuck around.

“Yeah, definitely,” Caruso said. “Just because of how well I played with them when I was here. I know how I supported them. And I’ve gotten better. I was expecting myself to get better. It’s actually what had to move me on. I kept getting better and eventually I was at a point where I couldn’t stay here.

“I definitely have always thought about it because those guys [LeBron James and Anthony Davis] are my brothers. We’ve been through a lot together. Always good seeing them. Every now and then you think about what could’ve been.”

Caruso made a name for himself in Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M, helping the Lakers win an NBA title in 2020.

The 29-year-old emerged as a key contributor for the franchise off the bench, putting together the best season of his career with the Lakers during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign, averaging 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 25 games while shooting 44.5 percent from the floor and 48.0 percent from deep.

Caruso left the Lakers after the 2020-21 season when the Bulls offered him a four-year, $37 million deal, more than L.A.’s offer of three years and $21 million. Since then, the Purple and Gold have struggled mightily and aren’t considered to be among the league’s top title contenders.

An Eastern Conference executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy.com in November that the Purple and Gold regretted letting Caruso exit in free agency and suggested he might be a trade target for the franchise this winter.

“The rumor around the Lakers was they regretted letting him go almost immediately after it happened,” the exec said. “They knew that was a mistake. He’s not the same player now, but the Lakers are worried they don’t have enough of an edge. He could be someone who helps fix that.”

Caruso is in the midst of the best season of his career, averaging 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 39 games while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from deep.

He would be the perfect addition to a struggling Lakers squad that sits ninth in the Western Conference with a 23-23 record.

However, Caruso has become one of the most sought after players in the league this winter and has been linked to a number of teams. And while the Bulls are expected to be sellers at the deadline, Chicago “would need multiple first-round picks to even consider parting with Caruso,” according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

That said, the Lakers might have to wait until Caruso hits free agency again if they hope to bring him back to Los Angeles.