76ers' Potential Trade Target May Never Hit The Market
With the assets they obtained in the James Harden trade, many expect the Philadelphia 76ers to make another move down the road. Following some recent updates, one potential trade target may never end up becoming available.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that the Chicago Bulls were open to parting ways with All-Star Zach LaVine. The Sixers were among the teams to pop up in rumors connected to him, but their interest never seemed strong. Instead, the name on the Bulls many wanted to see them target was Alex Caruso.
Caruso's name has popped up in rumors, but it seems like a massive bidding war would emerge if Chicago looked to trade him. That said, the team might decide to hold on to the defensive-minded guard.
During a recent mailbag for NBC Sports Chicago, insider K.C. Johnson was asked about Caruso's status. He responded by saying the front office but not look to move him because he is one of their biggest successes.
"All I can say is I’ve reported they’ve been hesitant to do so to this point. Now, that obviously can change between now and the Feb. 8 deadline. And there likely will be solid offers for Caruso, who is the perfect over-the-top piece for championship-contending teams. There’s also a scenario in which, in order to trade LaVine, Caruso may have to be included," Johnson wrote. "But Caruso is arguably this regime’s greatest success story and he is the perfect embodiment of the culture the franchise wants to project. Trading him would be painful for this management team; I can assure you that."
Johnson is not the only insider reporting the Bulls' unwillingness to trade Caruso. Shams Charania of The Athletic also detailed how the front office is shutting down any calls related to him.
"A bevy of teams has been calling expressing interest in trade for Bulls utility star Alex Caruso, league sources say, but the franchise has shut down those calls," Shams wrote.
Right now, the Bulls sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 9-14. As for Caruso, he continues to put together a strong season. Through 20 games, he is averaging 9.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 46.4% from beyond the arc.
As a high-level defender who can space the floor, Caruso is the perfect complement on a team like the Sixers. However, based on Johnson's response, it remains unclear if Daryl Morey will have the opportunity to try and acquire him.
