By this point Alex Caruso‘s rise from G-leaguer to a Los Angeles Lakers fan favorite is well documented, and for good reason. It is rare to see a player go from an undrafted afterthought to receiving more All-star votes than some of the well-known stars in the league.
Sure, some of those votes might have been for comedic value, but Caruso has earned his place in the NBA and on this team that is destined for a deep postseason run. That is why it would have been a travesty to give up on someone who has been a homegrown overachiever, for someone who is well past the prime of their career.