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Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting where each Lakers free agent signs

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers helps his teammates Montrezl Harrell #15 and Alex Caruso #4 during the third period of a game at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers helps his teammates Montrezl Harrell #15 and Alex Caruso #4 during the third period of a game at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Alex Caruso: Los Angeles Lakers

There is no way the Los Angeles Lakers can let Alex Caruso walk and the team just has to hope that another contender does not come in an overpay for him. Luckily, the chances of that happening are slim and the most I can see Caruso getting from another team is an MLE offer.

The Lakers can absolutely match that as they have his Bird Rights and I would bet that he would take a similar offer to stay in LA with the team that believed in him and helped develop him. It would take a team coming over the top and that won’t happen for two reasons.

First, not that many teams have that much salary-cap space. The teams that do have that space won’t come over the top for Caruso because of his perceived lack of ability on the offensive end. He might be a defensive specialist, but we know he can contribute and is improving offensively.

Caruso is one of the best defensive players in the entire league and posted the second-best Defensive Box Plus/Minus among guards in the league last season (trailing only Matisse Thybulle). He is so important to what the Lakers do defensively and LeBron James really seems to have a great relationship with him.

Alex Caruso is not going anywhere.

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