The Bulls continued to resist that path at this year’s trade deadline, finishing the season as the No. 9 seed and missing the postseason for the third time in four years.

A report from CHGO’s Will Gottlieb underscores just how detrimental their decision was.

“The Bulls took calls on Caruso, but never made them,” Gottlieb wrote on June 17. “According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bulls have received offers from multiple teams, consisting of multiple protected first-round picks ahead of the 2024 Trade Deadline. One of those deals included a pick that ended up in the top-10 of the 2024 Draft, the source said. The Golden State Warriors were among teams who made a strong offer for Caruso, multiple sources confirmed.

“Ultimately, they declined.”

Caruso averaged career highs with 10.1 points and 1.0 blocks per game while also tying his best mark with 1.7 steals. He also shot 40.8% on a career-high 4.7 attempts from beyond the arc. But Caruso’s greatest impact is how hard he hustles.

“Internally, the Bulls party line was that they would have to start searching for a Caruso replacement from the moment they traded him,” Gottlieb wrote.

Caruso has long been highly valued by the Bull

The Bulls signed Caruso to a three-year, $36.9 million contract coming off a recent championship season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has earned two All-Defensive team selections since then and won the NBA’s Hustle Award winner this past season.

The team’s success has not reflected his impact.

Caruso led the Bulls in net efficiency differential among players with at least 1,000 possessions in his first two seasons, per Cleaning The Glass.