The Thunder had Alex Caruso, but that might as well have been a millennium ago. It was the 2016-17 season. Russell Westbrook was rampaging toward the MVP award, restoring the city’s post-KD psyche with one triple-double after another.

Caruso, an undrafted guard out of Texas A&M, was a G Leaguer that 2016-17 season for the Oklahoma City Blue — coached by some fellow named Mark Daigneault.

Caruso, waived by the Thunder in training camp, arrived in Oklahoma City ahead of his time. Seven years later, the timing of Caruso’s return couldn’t be more perfect.

The Thunder acquired Caruso on Thursday from the Bulls in exchange for Josh Giddey, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. A one-for-one swap. No picks attached.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti waited only until the first day of summer to bring the heat. Another out-of-nowhere trade that sent the NBA world ablaze.

More: OKC Thunder to trade Josh Giddey to Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso, per report

In Caruso, the Thunder added a 6-foot-5 guard who’s a career 38% 3-point shooter and who happens to be one of the most dogged perimeter defenders in the NBA. He’s a two-time All Defensive player, making first team in 2022-23 and second team this past season.

According to the voters, he’s an even better perimeter defender than Lu Dort. Now they’re on the same team. Good luck getting a dribble off. And when those guys get tired, in comes a fresh Cason Wallace to wreak havoc.

Let’s say Caruso takes Giddey’s spot in the starting lineup.

Defensively, you’d have a pair of pit bulls in Dort and Caruso, the NBA’s total steals leader in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a swarming wing in Jalen Williams and a rim-protecting extraordinaire in Chet Holmgren.

The Thunder had the No. 4 defense in the league. That was with Giddey in the starting lineup. Replace Giddey with Caruso and you’ve got the basketball version of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

Now let’s look at the offensive end.

We don’t have to relitigate Giddey’s fit, or lack thereof. Giddey is a genius passer who was intentionally miscast in a tertiary role. He improved as a spot-up shooter, but not enough to bend defenses. Giddey’s Thunder career reached its nadir in the Western Conference semifinals when Daigneault benched him.

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Caruso isn’t as gifted as Giddey with the ball, but he’s a much better shooter. He shot 41% from 3-point range this season on a career-high 4.7 attempts per game.

Giddey, still just 21, handled his exile from the starting lineup with grace. In his exit interview, the Aussie called Oklahoma City his “home away from home.”

Days later, Presti said nothing to suggest that Giddey’s time in Oklahoma City had expired (nor did Presti vow that Giddey would return).

“He is tough and he is clutch,” Presti said. “He has been asked to change some things and adjust to different things, and he hasn’t flinched one time. He has never, to my knowledge, come to anyone and said, ‘I need more this, I need more that, what about me?’ He’s trying to figure out how to best help the team.”

When asked about Giddey being eligible for an extension this offseason, Presti said there was still time to figure that out. But the Thunder rarely lets players reach restricted free agency, and so it was swift in dealing Giddey for an ideal fit in Caruso, who in six months will also be eligible for an extension.

Rarely do you see one-for-one trades such as this.

The Thunder is moving on from its former No. 6 pick, Presti’s first pick of the Thunder’s new era.

In comes Caruso, who arrived too early only to return right on time.

More: How will OKC Thunder, general manager Sam Presti approach 2024 NBA Draft?

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Alex Caruso returns to OKC Thunder at perfect time in trade from Bulls