Alex Caruso
Bulls guard Alex Caruso drew trade interest from several teams, including the Warriors, Nuggets, and Knicks, among others leading up to the deadline thanks to his defensive ability, but never expected to be traded and kept his head down trying to help Chicago win games.
While stopping in town recently to face the Nets, Caruso explained to HoopsHype where he derived his defensive identity and an accolade he believes he can attain with more team success.
“I’ve watched a bunch of great players growing up from intensity, communication, and activity,” Caruso told HoopsHype. “I was a big fan of Kevin Garnett, the Pistons teams with Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace, and guys like Tony Allen, and other guys that people don’t maybe remember as well like Bruce Bowen and Raja Bell. Watching a bunch of people play over the years, I could tell there was an impact to be had on that side of the ball and something that came naturally to me.”
Becoming an All-Defensive Team selection is on Caruso’s bucket list of goals. “Yeah, if that stuff comes, it comes,” Caruso said. “It usually comes with some team success, which is what I strive for, to win games and play well. It would be really cool.”
Andre Drummond
Bulls center Andre Drummond, who averaged a double-double as a starter for the Nets after being acquired in the James Harden trade last season, was back in Brooklyn recently to face his former team and spoke with HoopsHype.
“I definitely wanted to come back, but I think they were going in a different direction, so there was nothing I could really do about that,” Drummond told HoopsHype. “I just had to find the next best option, and coming here is where I’m at. It’s been a learning experience playing under a new coach and team. Alex (Caruso) and Goran (Dragic) have been great. I’ve played with those guys with the Lakers and Nets. I’ve played against (Nikola) Vucevic damn near my whole career. It’s fun to be alongside him here. DeMar (DeRozan) and Zach (LaVine) are two special talents. It’s about finding out how to get guys to gel, and we’ll be great.”
Now in his 11th season, Drummond wants to compete for a championship sooner than later after being a two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion during his tenure with the Detroit Pistons earlier in his career.
“I’ve done some special things,” Drummond told HoopsHype. “I’ve had a lot of fun with what I’ve done throughout my career. My years in Detroit have been outstanding. I think this year has been a learning experience for me being on a new team with a new system. I’ve gotten a chance to travel a little bit. I guess being in one place for a long time (Detroit), you start getting cabin fever (laughs). I take the new journeys as something that’s fun to experience new organizations and try to win big.”
Turning 30 this summer with a $3.36 million player option for next season, Drummond believes the league is shifting back towards valuing big men like him again.
“It’s been going back and forth,” Drummond said. “I think the NBA is starting to go back to bigger guys again. I think I’ve done a good job of staying with the times of the transitions between the small ball and big ball, centers being shooters, to now going back to teams looking for bigs. I stayed patient and current while working on my game to stay on the floor. I think the times for the bigs are starting to come around.”
MORE: Q&A: Bulls center Nikola Vucevic on free agency, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, more
– Michael Scotto
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