The Sacramento Kings almost pulled out of a trade to acquire Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls

The Kings almost made a major trade last week when they acquired their first-round pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft in an effort to improve their roster.

League sources told The Athletic that the Kings were close to making a trade for Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso, a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. The Kings reportedly offered No. 13 as the “key chip” in trade talks with Chicago, but the Bulls instead opted to send Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal for Josh Giddey.

Caruso, 30, is a 6-foot-4, 186-pound shooting guard who would have added a lockdown defender to a Sacramento backcourt featuring De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell and Keon Ellis. He was an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection in 2023 and an All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2024.

Caruso averaged a career-high 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks last season. He shot a career-best 46.8% from the field and 40.8% from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts per game.

The Kings have been active and aggressive in trade talks since general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox came to Sacramento in September 2020. In February 2022, they completed a blockbuster deal to acquire Domantas Sabonis in a trade that sent Tyrese Haliburton. Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to the Indiana Pacers.

The Kings have also had a few near misses over the last three years. In July 2021, they were on the verge of trading Hield for Kyle Kuzma before the Los Angeles Lakers opted to send Kuzma to the Washington Wizards in a deal for Russell Westbrook. In February, the Kings came close to acquiring Pascal Siakam before the Toronto Raptors traded him to the Pacers.

Recent reports have linked the Kings to Kuzma and Bulls guard Zach LaVine. In July 2018, the Kings signed LaVine to an offer sheet before the Bulls matched the offer to keep him in Chicago. LaVine is entering the third year of a massive five-year, $215 million contract that will pay him $43 million in 2024-25, $46 million in 2025-26 and $49 million in 2026-27.

Kuzma is entering the second year of a much more team-friendly four-year, $90 million contract with a declining salary scale. He is owed $23.5 million in 2024-25, $21.5 million in 2025-26 and $19.4 million in 2026-27.