Los Angeles Lakers: Alex Caruso will be a difference maker

With the 2019-20 season quickly approaching, Alex Caruso is primed to be a difference maker for the Los Angeles Lakers.

In a season of disappointment, a season in which the Los Angeles Lakers missed the playoffs, Alex Caruso was a bright spot. The 25-year-old guard got some big minutes down the stretch when Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo missed some time.

The Lakers missed the playoffs to the surprise of everyone. The team went 37-45. A big reason was injuries to LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball. Everybody on the roster missed at least 10 games except Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who played every game.

As a result of so many guys in and out of the lineup, some players that weren’t expected to play much, got minutes. Players like Johnathan Williams, Isaac Bonga, and Moritz Wagner got to showcase their game. The beneficiary was certainly Caruso.

You hear the stories of how good Alex Caruso looks in practice or how magnificent he was in the G-League. Caruso was Second-team All NBA G-League in 2018. That season he averaged 19 points and 7.7 assists.

Caruso had already gotten some minutes as a backup guard in 2017-18 with the Lakers. As a rookie, he averaged 3.6 points and 2 assists in 15 minutes. While Caruso showed flashes as an athlete and versatile defender, he didn’t look comfortable on offense.

This season he looked like another animal. In year two, he posted averages of 9.2 points and 3.1 assists in 21 minutes. He was efficient, shooting 45% from the field, and 48% from deep.

Over the last six games those numbers jumped to 18.1 points and 8 assists. A 32-point and 10 rebound performance against the Clippers opened the eyes of many.  A good portion of his terrific performances down the stretch were against teams looking to improve playoff positioning.

If he looked this good without LeBron James, and Kyle Kuzma, imagine how easier things will get with the pair back healthy and Anthony Davis?

At 6″5 with explosiveness to play above the rim, Alex Caruso is an intriguing talent. He can do a bit of everything. He can score at the rim, shoot it from the outside, make plays, and defend. You can make the case despite of a small sample size, that he is more well-rounded at this stage than Rajon Rondo and Quinn Cook.

The biggest question will be how many minutes will Frank Vogel give him? If Alex Caruso gets 20-25 minutes a night, I have no doubt he will produce on both ends.

The Lakers didn’t sign him to a two-year, $5.5 million contract to ride the bench. There is reason the Warriors were interested in signing him. The guard can really play. He has all the talent to be a difference maker.

Caruso is far more explosive than any other Lakers guard, he brings something to the table that the Lakers lack. He will bring energy on both ends, and that’s why it’s important for him to get a large opportunity.

Assuming the Lakers give him around 20 minutes, I see Caruso averaging around 10 points and 4 assists. Caruso will have his fair share of highlight reel plays, but more importantly he will be a big piece for a Lakers team looking to win it all.