Alex Caruso to Thunder voted as 2nd-best offseason move in ESPN survey

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a productive offseason headlined by the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.

Both veterans are immediate fixes and add depth to OKC’s rotation. The Thunder enter the 2024-25 season as heavy title favorites. After a first-seed finish last year, expect them to be in that conversation for the foreseeable future.

The Thunder’s addition of Caruso was highlighted in ESPN’s survey of 18 NBA coaches, scouts and executives to gauge what everybody thought of the offseason.

It was voted the second-best offseason move behind Paul George’s arrival to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Thunder acquired Caruso from the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey in a rare player-for-player swap.

“Getting him without giving up a pick is crazy,” an East scout told ESPN.

Caruso will likely take over Giddey’s starting spot next season. The 30-year-old is off two straight seasons of All-Defensive honors and is a 3-and-D player who will benefit from OKC’s system.