Sam Presti planned to keep Josh Giddey with the Oklahoma City Thunder, having him come off the bench in the 2024-25 season, but Giddey didn't want that. Giddey wanted to maximize his talents elsewhere, leading to the Thunder-Bulls trade. It was a simple Giddey-Caruso swap, one that greatly benefited OKC en route to the 2025 NBA title.
The Thunder won the trade before they won the championship, but that was the cherry on top. Caruso is the perfect role player for Oklahoma City. His value is most felt on the defensive end (unlike Giddey), as he's the best perimeter defender in the league.