Former Lakers Champ Signing Big-Money Extension With New Team to End 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers head into the final week of December looking for ways to solidify themselves as contenders going into 2025. While recent wins have helped Los Angeles get back near the top of the Western Conference standings, J.J. Redick and co. still have a long way if they're to be taken seriously as Finals threats.

One team the Lakers will likely be chasing in 2025 is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have dominated their way to the top spot in the west thanks to savvy roster building and asset management by GM Sam Presti.

Before the season kicks into high gear after New Year's, however, Presti has decided to lock up a former Laker to a big contract.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, guard Alex Caruso has agreed to a four-year, $81 million extension with Oklahoma City right before Christmas. This keeps the defensive specialist and key bench player for the Thunder from hitting the open market as a free agent this summer.

This is quite the comeup for Caruso, who first entered the NBA as a developmental league player for the Thunder in 2016. His persistence helped him catch on with the Lakers, and he went on to showcase his talents to the rest of the league, making him one of the most respected defenders on any roster.

That also made him highly sought after, and Caruso opted to take the Chicago Bulls' four-year, $37 million offer in 2021 after Los Angeles showed a lack of interest in bringing him back.

Heading into the final year of that deal this season, Chicago opted to trade Caruso to the Thunder in a straight swap for fellow guard Josh Giddey. In a reserve-only role for OKC, Caruso is averaging 5.7 points, 2.4 assists and 1.9 steals across 20.2 minutes per night.

Caruso's payday is yet another case of a once-young Lakers player going on to enjoy even more success away from L.A., a trend that has partially led the team to be in need of a talent injection heading into 2025.