Could the Chicago Bulls trade fan-favorite Alex Caruso?

The Bulls may be considering moving guard Alex Caruso before the February NBA trade deadline.

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso is a player who constantly makes winning plays. Whether by being at the right place at the right time or when relentlessly pressuring opposing ballhandlers, Caruso does whatever it takes to help his team win. It's no surprise, then, that Caruso's name has been floated around in trade talks. The question is, will the Bulls bite?

Bulls open to fielding calls

According to ESPN's Jamal Collier, the Bulls are open to fielding calls from other teams regarding Caruso. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that a trade involving the incredibly-gifted defensive player is imminent.

"Alex Caruso has drawn interest from other teams and Chicago has been open to listening to offers on the reserve guard, a league source told ESPN," Collier wrote.

Collier added that any offer for Caruso would have to be too good to pass up for them to pull the trigger.

"The Bulls would likely have to be blown away by a deal to trade perhaps their most important defensive player," Collier added.

Difference-maker

To the uninitiated, it may be weird to see such demand for Caruso's services, given that he averages 5.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. Still, Caruso's best work doesn't always show up on the stat sheet.

Besides his 1.7 steals per game, Caruso is a difference-maker on the defensive end, using his great footwork and basketball IQ to harass opposing guards. His championship experience from his days with the Los Angeles Lakers will also be crucial for a Bulls squad that is trying to return to the NBA Playoffs.

The bottom line is that Chicago would best think twice before giving the green light on any deals involving Caruso. They may still be able to get a nice package in return, but at the end of the day, there is no replacing his invaluable contributions on the defensive side of the ball.