In a surprising move, the NBA scene was abuzz with activity as two title contenders made significant trades to bolster their rosters. The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder both made moves that could potentially impact the upcoming season.
First, the Celtics reportedly acquired elite wing defender Alex Caruso from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade. Caruso, a two-time All-Defensive guard, was ranked fourth in steals for the 2023-24 campaign and shot an impressive 40.8% from three-point range on 4.7 attempts per game last season.
Caruso's defensive ability is well known, and he can match up with top wing players in the league, such as Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The addition of Caruso to the Celtics roster could make them an even stronger contender for the NBA championship.
Meanwhile, the Thunder traded Caruso to Boston in exchange for guard Josh Giddey. Giddey, who was the sixth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, started 210 games for the Thunder including 80 this past season where he averaged 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
The Thunder are looking to contend again for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and Caruso's departure leaves a void that needs to be filled. The team is reportedly considering several options, including trading for other elite defenders or signing free agents.
These trades come as teams begin their offseason preparations and set their sights on the upcoming NBA season. Stay tuned for more updates as the league continues to reshape its rosters.