At the helm of the Chicago Bulls' front office, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, the vice president of basketball operations and general manager, respectively, oversee their team from offices that overlook the courts below. These offices, each featuring a sliding glass door opening to an indoor balcony, symbolize the pair's hands-on approach to guiding the franchise forward.
For Karnisovas, who has been actively soliciting ideas from other members of the front office, coaches, and players to shape a new vision for the Bulls, the challenge has been significant. The Bulls have missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven years and the third time during Karnisovas' four-year tenure, most recently being eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
In a recent press conference, Karnisovas declared, "We need to have a summer like 2021," taking full responsibility for the team's performance. The front office has since made bold moves, signaling a shift in strategy. DeMar DeRozan left in free agency, Alex Caruso was traded away, and Andre Drummond exited as well.
Youth Movement
The Bulls replaced their seasoned veterans with young talents, bringing in Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith. As Eversley explained, "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."
Despite a challenging season, there were bright spots. Coby White finished second in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, showcasing his development and potential for the future.
A New Training Ground
In a break from tradition, the Bulls held their training camp outside of Chicago for the first time in nearly 40 years, opting for the campus of Belmont University in Nashville. This change of scenery served as a fresh start for the team, which was 24-27 at the trade deadline.
At the deadline, the Bulls prioritized the play-in tournament over unloading their veteran talent, holding onto Drummond and Caruso for another run. This decision underscored the team’s commitment to remaining competitive in the short term while building for the future.
Farewell to DeRozan
DeRozan maintained his desire to remain in Chicago throughout the season, but ultimately, the Bulls agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Kings, who signed DeRozan to a new three-year, $74 million contract. In his farewell, DeRozan expressed his gratitude, 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."
Eversley echoed this sentiment, appreciating DeRozan's contributions while acknowledging the need for change. "I love DeMar. He was terrific for our organization the last three years. But I don't think we were in a position to deliver what he was looking for going forward. He wants to win. He deserves an opportunity to win at a really high level. And arguably, we're not in that situation right now," Eversley said. "As much as it hurt to let him go, I'm extremely happy for him."
Looking Ahead with LaVine
Zach LaVine, who underwent season-ending surgery in February, is fully recovered and ready to start the new season. LaVine’s relationship with coach Billy Donovan has had its ups and downs, but the hope is that a fresh start in training camp will foster a better dynamic. Eversley spoke optimistically about LaVine’s return, saying, "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. When he came back, he was pretty good and the team was pretty good. Small sample size, but we can build off that."
Coaching Changes
The Bulls also made significant changes to their coaching staff, parting ways with Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff. They were replaced by Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig, who bring new perspectives and strategies to the team.
Future Prospects
The Bulls owe their 2025 first-round draft pick to the Spurs, though it's top-10 protected. This places a premium on performing well enough to avoid giving up a valuable asset. Eversley remains optimistic about the Bulls' future, stating, "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."
As the Bulls move forward with their revamped roster and coaching staff, the next season will be a crucial test of whether these strategic changes can steer the franchise back to consistent success.