As an NBA data analyst who's spent years breaking down roster decisions, the Lakers' choice to let Alex Caruso leave still baffles me. BR's Eric Pincus confirmed what many of us suspected: it wasn't about luxury tax savings, but rather a staggering misjudgment of Caruso's value. The team prioritized Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and Patrick Beverley over one of the league's most impactful role players. This piece digs into the advanced metrics that prove why this ranks among the worst front office blunders in recent memory.

As a 12-year NBA analyst and former ESPN columnist, I break down the Lakers' baffling decision to let Alex Caruso walk in 2021. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't about luxury tax concerns - the front office simply didn't see value in one of the league's best perimeter defenders. I'll analyze their questionable roster moves (Tucker? Nunn? Really?) with data-driven clarity only a Lakers-hometown insider can provide.