Why Panthers are making three key lineup tweaks for Game 6

Paul Maurice, ever a preacher of the positive when he takes to the Stanley Cup Final podium, would never frame his lineup changes as punishments. But a couple of his Florida Panthers will pay for their mistakes in Game 5’s 5-3 loss by taking a reduced role in Game 6.

The NBA off-season appears to be in full swing.

The first trade of the off-season seems to have been made on Thursday with the Chicago Bulls sending guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Caruso, 30, brings championship pedigree and a defensive presence that will bolster an already loaded Thunder team that finished atop the Western Conference this past season.

The two-time All-Defence team member averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists through 71 games for the Bulls in 2023-24.

A champion in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Caruso was entering the final year of his current contract, with expectations of a raise. With Chicago supposedly willing to re-sign DeMar DeRozan (UFA) and Patrick Williams (RFA) — and no signs of a trade partner for Zach LaVine — the Bulls didn’t appear willing to foot that bill.

Oklahoma City has the cap flexibility to retain Caruso long-term, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is under contract until 2027 and co-stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are still on rookie deals.

Caruso and Lu Dort now form arguably the league’s most vaunted duo of wing defenders.

Meanwhile, Giddey will hope to reach his potential after being the sixth-overall pick in 2021. The 21-year-old averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists through 80 games last season with OKC.

An adept playmaker, Giddey had to share ball-handling duties with a perennial MVP candidate (Gilgeous-Alexander) and rookie star (Holmgren). And in the post-season, Giddey saw his role reduced further as teams targeted the guard for his lack of three-point shooting.

Regardless of that, his playmaking chops will be welcomed in Chicago as the Bulls have tried (i.e., Lonzo Ball) and failed to find a true facilitator to elevate their stars and depth pieces alike.

Giddey will get an elevated role not having to play alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, and he can be the Bulls’ engine on offence — setting up players like breakout guard Coby White.

The Australian will be able to work out a rookie-scale extension with Chicago ahead of restricted free agency next off-season.