As a data analyst who's spent years dissecting NBA roster decisions, the Lakers' choice to let Alex Caruso go still baffles me. It wasn't about luxury tax—they spent more on worse players. This article breaks down how LA's front office misvalued one of basketball's most efficient role players through cold hard stats and contract comparisons. I'll show you why this decision epitomizes their recent roster-building failures with charts that even Magic Johnson could understand.