Are Suns Realistic Candidate for Alex Caruso?

The Suns have been connected to Alex Caruso since Frank Vogel's arrival. Does it make sense?

The Chicago Bulls feel like a franchise that is on the verge of inevitably resetting after the unfortunate Lonzo Ball injury saga and a series of short-sighted moves that hurt the future prosperity of the 6-time NBA champs.

While Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will be the major focus in trade discussions moving forward, Alex Caruso is a player that virtually any contender would covet.

The guard is widely considered one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league, and has shot an eye-popping 50% from three-point range this season. There aren't many role player guards in the league that can guard multiple positions and score that efficiently off-the-ball.

Enter the Phoenix Suns.

Suns head coach Frank Vogel and Caruso have a shared history, with Caruso playing for Vogel on the Lakers from 2019-2021. 

The two won an NBA title together in the bubble in 2020, and Vogel almost always has very positive things to say about the guard when asked. 

Caruso also appears to be a player who would very much pique Suns general manger James Jones' interest. 

As previously stated, Caruso is a diverse defender who is elite both off ball and at the point of attack. He also serves as a fantastic connector on offense and is a strong shooter, all without needing the ball often. 

While the Suns almost certainly would have interest, would they have the assets to make a deal happen?

That remains to be seen. 

Caruso is in year three of a four-year deal, and his coveted skill-set could see as many as 10 teams involved in talks, potentially even more.

It had been previously reported that any Caruso trade would involve a return of at least a player and first-round pick. Now, the belief is the return could be closer to what the Trail Blazers received for former All-star Jrue Holiday (two firsts and two players).

The demand and asking price for Caruso make a deal unlikely, as the Suns' best offer likely centers around Grayson Allen, Jordan Goodwin, and multiple second-round picks.

While that offer isn't shabby, at least a few the 10-plus teams competing could offer first-round picks to sweeten the deal and acquire the services of one of the best role players in basketball. 

While the Suns could theoretically acquire Caruso's services, it seems unlikely at this juncture, even if it is fun to imagine the Bulls guard game-wrecking in a Vogel-designed system once again.