At the heart of the Chicago Bulls’ office setup lie the strategic minds of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, the team's vice president of basketball operations and general manager, respectively. Overlooking the basketball courts, their offices boast sliding glass doors opening onto balconies that allow them to observe the fruits of their labor firsthand.
Karnisovas has been proactive in shaping a new vision for the Bulls, seeking input from all corners of the organization, including front office staff, coaches, and players. This collaborative approach is critical as the team attempts to rebound from a series of disappointing seasons. Despite significant efforts, the Bulls have fallen short, being eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament for two consecutive years. Karnisovas, entering his fourth year with the Bulls, has vowed to take "full responsibility" for the team's shortcomings.
Roster Overhaul
This offseason marked a significant shift in the Bulls' strategy, emphasizing youth and potential over experience. The departures of key veterans like DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, along with Andre Drummond's exit in free agency, signaled a new direction. The Bulls filled their roster with younger talents, including Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith.
“We’ve gone young. We’ve got players who are experienced and give us a greater opportunity to have a longer runway for sustainability to winning meaningful games for a longer time,” said Eversley, outlining the philosophy behind these moves.
For DeRozan, the move was bittersweet. He expressed his gratitude to Bulls fans, saying, "A thank you would be an understatement. The love, passion and joy you filled me with for three seasons was a dream. It gave me a drive every night to return the feeling." However, Eversley acknowledged that the decision to let DeRozan go was motivated by a desire to give him a better opportunity to win elsewhere. “As much as it hurt to let him go, I’m extremely happy for him,” Eversley added.
Challenges and Opportunities
In addition to roster changes, the Bulls experienced significant coaching staff turnover. Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff exited their positions, making way for Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. The team also broke tradition by holding training camp outside of Chicago for the first time in nearly 40 years, opting instead for the campus of Belmont University in Nashville.
An enduring storyline for the Bulls has been the health and performance of Zach LaVine. After undergoing season-ending surgery in February, LaVine is expected to be fully recovered and ready to lead the team. “The most unfortunate situation for Zach last year was that he got hurt. Coming out of camp, he wasn’t right. Him going down early in the season proved that,” Eversley noted. Despite previous clashes with coach Billy Donovan, LaVine's return injects a sense of optimism.
However, internal sources remain skeptical about whether LaVine has the mindset to lead the Bulls to significant success. “He’s never won, he’s done it his way the whole way and never won. If he’s interested in winning, he’ll do what’s asked of him. And if he’s motivated to not be here, one way is to come, be compliant and be who he is,” a source from within the team shared candidly.
Season Outlook
The Bulls are at a critical juncture with a roster that blends youth and maturing talent. They were 24-27 at the trade deadline, and instead of offloading veteran talent, they aimed to secure a spot in the play-in tournament for the second consecutive season. Yet, the economic and strategic choices made—such as holding onto Caruso before ultimately trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Giddey—reflect a broader vision of future success.
Promises have been made, and changes have been enacted at various levels within the organization. As Marc Eversley articulated, "We’ve promised change and we think we’ve executed that. I think the changes being made at all levels of the organization are positive ones. Now it’s time to put in the work and see if some of those changes are going to be fruitful or not."
The impending season stands as a litmus test for the new-look Bulls. With a blend of hopeful young players and the steady return of key figures, the upcoming games will reveal whether the strategic overhaul can translate into on-court success and, ultimately, a return to playoff contention.