While Alex Caruso is enjoying his first season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he also wants to extend his stay with the club.

Talk to an NBA Insider Jake FischerCaruso said it would be “great” to reach a long-term extension with the Thunder now that he is eligible to sign a new contract:

“Obviously, it’s a place that I think is on the rise and it’s something that I want to be a part of. That’s why I’m here. I think the writing is on the wall. People n Don’t trade for guys in the last year of their contracts unless they hope to keep them for a while.

“It’s just the business part. So I’m looking forward to having that conversation with Sam (Presti). Everything the Thunder stands for, those are things that I stand for. I think their focus, their motivations and their desires are like mine. It went well and I look forward to living for a few more years.

Oklahoma City made what appeared to be one of the best moves of the entire offseason by acquiring Caruso from the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey in the rare one-for-one trade. Giddey was a useful player for three seasons with the Thunder, but last year’s playoffs showed some of the flaws in their rotation with him on the field.

There was long-term risk for the Thunder as Caruso is in the final season of his contract with just one $9.9 million salary. Still, a team that’s primed to win now after being the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in the 2023-24 campaign could afford to take a chance.

Caruso was a natural fit due to his defensive versatility and ability to make threes. His defense carried over to the Thunder with a career-high 1.9 steals per game, but he’s still looking to find consistency in his shooting. The Texas A&M alum is shooting a career-best 38.5 percent from the field and 27.0 percent from three-point range.

Fischer noted that Saturday marks the first day Caruso is eligible to sign an extension with the Thunder. It’s unclear if he will be part of the team’s plans beyond this season.

Caruso, who turns 31 on February 28, is the oldest player on the Oklahoma City roster. Kenrich Williams is the only other player on the team over the age of 26.

Another factor is that the Thunder’s main players are going to get very expensive very soon. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for a four-year, $294.3 million supermax extension after this season.

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren can sign extensions after the 2025-26 season. We have already seen the impact that the new apron rules have had on how teams approach building their rosters.

Considering the Thunder previously I broke up a big threesome as they entered their prime and the ramifications that followed, it’s hard to imagine them doing the same thing again when Presti and the front office so masterfully rebuilt this franchise into the best young core in the NBA.

Caruso’s price tag will most likely be the deciding factor on whether or not he stays in Oklahoma City beyond this season. If he’s happy with the organization and things continue to go well on the court for the Thunder, both sides could find a deal that works for them.