OKC Thunder Mailbag: Will Alex Caruso's regular-season role change?

With the NBA season set to begin, the Thunder find themselves in a quiet period before the regular season. The Thunder are favored to win another championship, alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the departures of Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, the team's core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren continues to be a formidable force.

With these questions in mind, Thunder Wire presents a Thunder Mailbag for the offseason. In one of these questions, a fan wonders if Alex Caruso's role in the regular season might change with the recent departures.

Caruso joined the Thunder via a one-for-one trade with the Chicago Bulls in June 2024 and played a crucial role in their 2025 championship run. Caruso's impact was more noticeable in the playoffs, where he averaged 9.9 points on 46.2% shooting from beyond the arc. However, his regular season stats show a different story. He averages 6.6 points on 43.3% shooting, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in the regular season, with only 32.2% from three-point range.

With the Thunder reduced to two proven point guards, Caruso is expected to play a bigger role. The Thunder must consider whether Caruso's regular season workload could impact his stamina for the postseason. While Caruso's role is crucial, overplaying him in the regular season might not be the best strategy if it compromises his performance when it matters most.