Four days after trading the team’s best player, Chicago Bulls chief basketball executive Artūras Karnišovas still couldn’t offer a clear vision for the direction of the franchise.
“We might get a high draft pick, or we might be in the Play-in (Tournament),” Karnišovas said following Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. “We might be in the playoffs.”
A team rarely has such a range of possibilities — and even more rarely doesn’t know the direction it’s going with 30 games remaining.
Karnišovas was asked if a third consecutive Play-In appearance was worth not securing a higher selection in this year’s draft.
“That’s worth it for me,” Karnišovas said.
On a day he could have re-energized his frustrated fan base with a strong show of leadership, Karnišovas essentially ceded control with one big, “We’ll see what happens.”
The Bulls did nothing on the trade front to follow through on their blockbuster, three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. Instead, they signed Lonzo Ball to a two-year, $20 million extension with a team option for the second season. Ball’s feel-good comeback story will continue in Chicago, but his deal adds more complexity, if not confusion, to the Bulls’ building plans.
“Changes needed to be made,” Karnišovas said, “and we are taking the opportunity to learn, pivot and take necessary steps to reshape our team. I know fans want specific plans, and we’re charting that path now. We are not done yet. We’re in a transitional phase, and there’s more to come.”
If Thursday’s deadline was any indication, the Bulls are in for a slow, uninspiring rebuild.
“That’s where the plan stands,” Karnišovas said. “We are committing to building a sustainable, competitive team. We’re not OK with being in the middle. It can be a long process, and sometimes it requires taking a step back before moving forward. Our commitment to the (championship) goal has not changed.
“This will take some time to fully unfold, but we’ve already made a significant shift.”
Given the state of the Bulls, a franchise with just one playoff victory in the past seven seasons, it’s natural for observers to wonder if they could have achieved more.
Starting center Nikola Vučević, 34, is playing some of the best basketball of his career and has only one year remaining on his contract. The Bulls no longer need him — particularly after acquiring Zach Collins as part of the LaVine deal — and could have moved him to the highest bidder. Coby White also will be in the final year of his contract next season, and the Bulls must decide whether he’s worthy of a hefty raise. Ball and Ayo Dosunmu had trade value, as well.
“We obviously value draft compensation and young players and then flexibility, I think, in that order,” Karnišovas said. “But we have nine players who are between 20 and 25 (years old). I think you have to have a right mix of players in order to grow. You can’t just roll out young players and think they’re going to develop on their own. You need the right vets and experienced guys to be around, and I see in that Vooch and keeping Zo in that kind of role.”
Rather than fielding a team with multiple stars, Karnišovas said the Bulls now will be built to be a deep roster with nearly a dozen talented players who can contribute.
“More and more teams are doing that,” he said. “Three and a half years ago, we tried to put that team together that came out pretty well, but we skipped steps and tried to accelerate the process. I think right now, we have an opportunity here to play it slower and evaluate our young guys.”
Two days after Bulls coach Billy Donovan said he is open to coaching a rebuild, Karnišovas praised Donovan for what he’s done this season.
“I thought Billy did a great job this year of getting buy-in from our vets and our young guys for how we want to play,” Karnišovas said. “We were pretty consistent with pace, running the floor and shooting 3s. We made big adjustments to our style of play this year, and we will continue to adjust as necessary.
“Billy is a great coach to work with and is always receptive to feedback and conversation. Billy and I are constantly discussing things we need to improve, like turnovers, reducing second-chance points. Billy, like all coaches, is driven to win and recognizes the importance of developing our young players. He does a great job trying to balance that.”
Karnišovas also addressed long-suffering Bulls fans directly, as if he’s well aware of the arrows that are being directed at him.
“To our fans, I’m working tirelessly to put this team in position for long-term success,” he said. “I’m constantly evaluating opportunities, making tough decisions and staying proactive in shaping the roster. Every move is carefully considered with a goal of building a competitive and sustainable future.
“While the process takes time, and I know it’s frustrating to me at times, as well, my dedication to improving the team is of utmost importance. I know where responsibility lands, and I’m committed to making the right decisions to elevate this team.”
(Photo of Artūras Karnišovas: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
