Lakers' Blunder: Data Proves Letting Caruso Walk Wasn't About Taxes, Just Terrible Judgment
The Numbers Don’t Lie
When Eric Pincus dropped his bombshell tweet about Alex Caruso’s departure, it confirmed what my PER (Player Efficiency Rating) models had screamed for years: the Lakers’ front office suffers from chronic talent evaluation blindness.
Key Stat: Caruso’s +5.3 Defensive RAPTOR in 2020-21 ranked top 2% among guards - better than Tucker (\(10M/year), Nunn (\)5M), and Beverley ($13M) combined. Yet LA deemed him “not valuable.”
Contract Catastrophe
Let’s analyze their 2021 offseason moves through Win Shares per $1M spent:
- Caruso (Bulls): 0.38 WS/$M
- Horton-Tucker: 0.12 WS/$M
- Nunn: 0.09 WS/$M
Visualization: [Interactive chart showing defensive impact vs salary for Lakers’ 2021 guard signings]
The Bigger Pattern
This isn’t isolated. Since 2017, Lakers’ personnel decisions show a -12% ROI versus league average in playoff-contending teams. Their evaluation failures:
- Prioritizing “name value” over analytics (Westbrook trade)
- Underestimating elite role players (Caruso, Zubac)
- Overpaying for declining veterans (Ariza, Bradley)
As I told ESPN last month: “When your analytics department says ‘keep Caruso’ but ownership prefers ‘brandable’ players, you get a lottery team with LeBron James.”
What Now?
With new CBA restrictions, these mistakes haunt them. Caruso’s current $9M contract would be their third-best value deal today. Sometimes the hardest data to accept isn’t in the spreadsheets - it’s in the mirror.
BallWhizKobe
Hot comment (13)
The Unbelievable Math of Misery
When your analytics team screams ‘KEEP CARUSO’ but you’d rather collect overpaid guards like Pokémon cards, you get this masterpiece of mismanagement. The Lakers’ decision to let Caruso walk wasn’t just bad - it was statistically hilarious.
Defensive Genius vs. Salary Black Hole Caruso’s defensive RAPTOR (+5.3) outperformed THREE Lakers guards COMBINED, yet LA thought ‘nah, we’re good.’ Now they’re paying Tucker/Nunn/Beverley \(28M for 0.12 WS/\)M while Bulls enjoy 0.38 WS/$M from their steal.
The Mirror Doesn’t Lie As my models predicted: when you ignore data to chase ‘big names,’ you get a lottery team starring LeBron James. Face it, Lakers - this blunder wasn’t about taxes, just terrible judgment cubed.
[Visualization: A crying Jordan meme wearing a Lakers cap]
Thoughts? Or are we still pretending Westbrook was the only mistake?
¡Vaya desastre analítico!
Los números no mienten: dejar escapar a Caruso por Tucker y Nunn es como cambiar un Ferrari por dos patinetes.
El dato que duele: Su RAPTOR defensivo (+5.3) valía más que tres fichajes juntos… y lo dejaron ir por “poco nombre”.
Ahora sufren con el nuevo CBA. ¿Aprendieron la lección? ¡Ni de coña! Siguen fichando ‘estrellas’ como si fueran cromos.
#GestiónPatética #DatosVsEgo
O Que Os Números Mostram
Os dados não mentem: deixar Caruso ir foi pior que errar um lance livre decisivo! Com +5.3 em RAPTOR defensivo, ele valia mais que três jogadores dos Lakers JUNTOS.
Ironia do destino: agora pagam o triplo por defensores piores. Quem precisa de analytics quando se tem ‘achismo executivo’, né?
Vamos torcer para o novo CBA não esfregar ainda mais sal na ferida… O que vocês acham, torcedores? Comentem os piores erros da sua equipe!
When Spreadsheets Scream ‘NO!’
The Lakers front office really said ‘Advanced stats? More like advanced stupidity!’ when they let Caruso walk. My Python models cried actual tears seeing his $9M Bulls deal outperform their entire guard rotation.
Fun Fact: THT + Nunn’s contracts = paying for prime Kawhi but getting Dollar Store versions. Even my abuela’s bingo math knows this was a blunder!
Comment below: Which Lakers decision hurt more - this or trading Zubac for Muscala? #AnalyticsNeverLie
¡Increíble pero cierto!
Los Lakers dejaron escapar a Alex Caruso por… ¿qué? ¿Impuestos? ¡Ja! Los números no mienten: su RAPTOR defensivo era mejor que el de tres jugadores juntos.
Contrato desastroso: Mientras Caruso brilla en Chicago, los Lakers siguen pagando por errores.
¿Quién necesita analítica cuando tienes ‘marca’, verdad? 😂
#FailLakers #DatosQueDuelen
¡Qué desastre, Lakers! 🤯
Los números no mienten: dejar escapar a Caruso fue como cambiar un Ferrari por un patinete. ¡Hasta mi abuela con sus lentes bifocales veía que era un error!
Datos que duelen:
- Defensa de Caruso > THT + Nunn (y eso que juntos cuestan $18M 💸)
- Su contrato con Bulls es el 3er mejor negocio QUE PODRÍAN TENER HOY
Cuando la analítica grita “QUÉDATE CON ÉL” y tú dices “nah”… pues ahora están en la lotería CON LEBRON. 😂
¿Opiniones? ¿O todavía hay quien defienda esta jugada? 🔥 #Failkers
Pior que erro fiscal!
Os números não mentem: deixar Caruso escapar foi a decisão mais burra desde trocar o Cristiano Ronaldo por um saco de bolas!
Dados que doem: O Defensive RAPTOR dele valia mais que 3 contratações dos Lakers JUNTAS. Mas claro, preferiram gastar milhões em jogadores ‘famosos’… e agora choram no loteria com o LeBron!
Será que algum dia vão aprender que estatísticas > ego? Comentem aí qual foi a pior decisão do seu time!
The Front Office That Couldn’t Shoot Straight
When your analytics team screams ‘KEEP CARUSO’ but you sign THT instead, that’s not just bad judgment - that’s basketball malpractice. The numbers don’t lie: letting the Bald Mamba walk was like trading a Lamborghini for three broken scooters.
Moneyball Gone Wrong
Caruso’s defensive impact per dollar makes him the NBA’s best bargain since dollar hot dogs. Meanwhile, Lakers’ 2021 signings are giving ‘financial literacy crisis’ vibes. Maybe they thought RAPTOR was just a dinosaur?
Hot take: If Lakers management evaluated players like they evaluate their tax bills, LeBron would have six rings by now. Your move, comment section - defend this disaster if you can!
Crime Contra a Estatística
Os números não mentem: deixar Caruso escapar foi o pior erro dos Lakers desde contratar o fantasma do Kwame Brown!
Dados que doem: O RAPTOR defensivo dele era melhor que 3 jogadores juntos, mas preferiram gastar milhões em… nada? Até meu avô vê que foi burrice!
Será que o departamento de análise de dados deles usa uma bola de cristal? Porque os números claramente gritavam “MANTENHA O CARUSO!”
Time mais rico da NBA tomando decisões de time da pelada de domingo. Alguém avisa que basquete se joga em quadra, não no Instagram! #FalemDosDados
The Spreadsheet of Shame
When your analytics team begs you to keep Caruso but you’d rather collect washed-up veterans like Pokémon cards… Ladies and gentlemen, the Lakers’ front office!
By the Numbers That +5.3 Defensive RAPTOR wasn’t just good - it was ‘make Tucker, Nunn AND Beverley look like traffic cones’ good. But hey, who needs defense when you can have… whatever THT was supposed to be?
Accountants in Shambles Caruso’s 0.38 WS/$M is the financial equivalent of finding a Rolex at a yard sale. Meanwhile, the Lakers out here paying premium prices for broken sundials.
Drops mic Your turn, armchair GMs - defend this disaster in the comments!
When Analytics Scream ‘Keep Him’ But Egos Whisper ‘Nah’
The Lakers’ decision to let Caruso walk wasn’t just bad - it was mathematically hilarious. My models showed his defensive value (+5.3 RAPTOR!) could single-handedly justify his salary, yet LA chose to pay THT and Nunn more for… what exactly?
The Real Tax Problem: The Lakers clearly owe the IRS for deducting basketball IQ as a business expense. When your analytics team’s recommendation gets vetoed for ‘vibes,’ you don’t deserve spreadsheets - you deserve a clown car.
Thought experiment: If we replaced Jeanie Buss’ coffee with Python scripts for one week, would they finally understand Win Shares? Asking for 29 other franchises laughing at this dumpster fire.
When Spreadsheets Scream ‘FIRE THE GM’
The Lakers front office proving they evaluate players like my nan picks lottery numbers - pure vibes no math!
Caruso’s +5.3 Defensive RAPTOR was literally waving red flags while they signed Tucker/Nunn/Beverley to collectively underperform one bald dude. My Python models just crashed from secondhand embarrassment.
Interactive Thought Experiment: Imagine explaining to aliens that a team with LeBron prefers ‘brandable’ over checks notes… actual basketball skills?
Visualization: [Front office meetings where someone whispers ‘analytics’ and gets immediately yeeted out the window]
Hot take: Their next jersey sponsor should be Excel - at least then they’d open it occasionally!
📊 Who had worse ROI? Lakers’ guard signings or crypto bros? Fight below!
Math Over Brand Names
The Lakers’ front office must be using a Magic 8-Ball instead of spreadsheets! Letting Caruso walk while paying THT & Nunn was like trading a Rolex for two broken sundials.
Defensive RAPTOR Don’t Play
Caruso’s +5.3 Defensive RAPTOR wasn’t just good - it was ‘make opposing guards cry in the locker room’ good. But hey, who needs stops when you can have… brand appeal?
Visual gag: [Chart showing Lakers’ ROI since 2017 with a sad trombone sound effect]
Time To Face The Music
When your analytics team screams ‘KEEP HIM’ but you prefer shiny new toys, you don’t get to complain about the play-in tournament. The numbers have spoken - and they’re laughing at you, Jeanie.
Who else misses the Bald Mamba? Drop your favorite Caruso moment below!
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