Well here’s the thing. Of course Chicago will ask for 2 first rounders. It’s their job to ask for a high offer. Doesn’t mean they’ll get it. Their line of thinking probably coincides with what the Celtics got for Marcus Smart (which was 2 firsts). If you analyze it closely, 1 of those picks was Memphis 2023 pick which was the 25th pick and 2024 Warriors pick top 4 protected.

Now if you ask me, Caruso is a more impactful player. Idc that Smart won DPOY. When you watch these 2 players, Caruso is significantly better defensively. He’s more consistent. Smart has good moments but also inconsistent moments where he doesn’t look like a good defender. Caruso always does. And Caruso doesn’t hurt you on offense like Smart does. With that being said, I would assume their value is very similar. If Caruso does get dealt for 2 picks, I would assume 1 of those picks will be a crappy late 1st.

It’s just hard to see a team give up 2 amazing future 1sts for Caruso when guys like OG Anunoby and Jrue Holiday are worth roughly about 3 picks. I feel like most teams would pony up an extra pick to get these guys instead of a Caruso/Smart. An OG Anunoby can completely transform a defense overnight and have a huge impact. Caruso does have similar impact but not as impactful. He also doesn’t spread the floor like an OG even tho he’s off to a hot start this year.

Conclusion- I wouldn’t chase Caruso unless were only giving up Davion & 1 first. I wouldn’t toss 2 picks at him since I’d rather save it for a bigger package on a more impact player like OG/Markennen etc. Caruso will improve our team tremendously but doesn’t move the needle into contender status. He’s more like a final piece to a contender that needs him similar to Aaron Gordon in Denver. If we’d trade for him, our assets would be tied up on literally 2 players; Huerter & Caruso. Although those guys are solid, we should only handicap our future for near Star players. Similar to the Clippers with PG. Lakers with AD. Suns with KD & Beal. Those are the type of guys u mortgage your future for.

And with Monte being this patient for 4 plus years, he’s not going to get impatient for a Alex Caruso. He’s going to do it for a star impact player. Man OG would be fkn perfect for this team. We’d have the near perfect starting lineup. Swapping HB for OG would make our starting lineup have shooting, elite defense, elite ISOs, the best closer in the game, rebounding, playmaking, ball movement, and more importantly unselfishness. We’d have an inside and outside game. We’d have mid range shooters. U name it. And in a playoff series, it’s extremely important to be versatile and diverse whenever teams are trying to take things away from you. IN MONTE WE TRUST