The Chicago Bulls are a franchise still very much trying to figure things out.
Following the end of the Derrick Rose era, Chicago basketball hasn’t been able to find much success, and that’s due in large part to their own mismanagement.
This summer, though, might be the first in a while that fans can legitimately call a success.
With Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic in mind, they went out and acquired Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan, two guys who instantly raised their ceiling.
They also signed backup guard Alex Caruso. And while he’s no major contributor, his tenure with the Lakers showed his worth and value.
In a recent chat with Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Lonzo spoke about his reunion with Caruso, calling him the “perfect teammate.”
‘‘He brings a winning mentality to the team, first and foremost, as a champion, and he also brings that toughness, that grit, and he’s going to do all the little things. AC is the perfect teammate. Anybody would love to play with him. He’s going to put the team first, and I know he’s definitely going to be appreciated in Chicago.’’
This isn’t the first time someone has raved about Caruso’s mentality.
A few months ago, LeBron James gave him a shout as well, speaking highly of his knowledge and approach to the game.
“His attention to detail. He’s just smart. Knows what we want him to do. Always in the right place at the right time. He just makes plays. Some in the box score, some don’t. (Tonight they did).”
Alex Caruso spent four years with the Lakers, averaging 5.9 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game.
Thanks to his skills, humble personality, and selfless style of play, he became a fan-favorite player and dependable performer off the bench for the Lakers.
As for what is to come in Chicago, that chapter hasn’t yet been written. But with a solid foundation and plenty of enthusiasm, there’s no reason to think the Bulls aren’t finally heading in the right direction.
They’ll be a team to watch next year, for sure.
