In the Offices at the Head: Building a New Bulls Vision
At the helm of the Chicago Bulls' decision-making sits Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, the Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, respectively. Situated in offices that overlook the basketball courts, these two executives have the perfect vantage point to observe the team they have meticulously constructed. Their workspace, with sliding glass doors that open to indoor balconies, symbolizes an openness to new ideas and strategies.
Karnisovas, ever the strategist, initiated a quest for fresh perspectives. Soliciting ideas from front office members, coaches, and players, he aimed to execute a rejuvenated vision for the Bulls. This vision was born out of necessity. For the second consecutive season, the Bulls faced elimination on the road by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. This marked their sixth playoff miss in seven years, and third in Karnisovas' four-year tenure. In a candid press conference, Karnisovas assumed full responsibility for the team's shortcomings.
The Bulls' offseason was marked by significant roster changes. Veteran star DeMar DeRozan found a new home in free agency, while Alex Caruso was traded away, and Andre Drummond was allowed to walk. This sweeping overhaul saw the Bulls replace their seasoned players with younger talent: Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith. “We've gone young,” Marc Eversley commented. “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.”
In a striking farewell, DeRozan expressed deep gratitude to Chicago 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." Eversley echoed this sentiment, highlighting DeRozan's contributions but acknowledging the necessity of the transition. "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. As much as it hurt to let him go, I'm extremely happy for him."
Among the notable changes, Coby White finished second in the NBA's Most Improved Player award voting, a silver lining in an otherwise tumultuous season. The Bulls also broke with nearly four decades of tradition by holding their training camp outside of Chicago, gathering on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville. Despite their strategic shifts, the Bulls found themselves at 24-27 at the trade deadline, prioritizing a play-in tournament appearance over unloading veteran talent.
DeRozan, throughout the season, maintained his desire to remain in Chicago, a testament to his commitment to the team. However, the Bulls traded Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Giddey, and agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Kings, who offered DeRozan a new three-year, $74 million contract. Amid these moves, Zach LaVine underwent season-ending surgery in February but has since fully recovered. LaVine, whose relationship with coach Billy Donovan has been strained in recent years, is set to return ready to start the season.
The coaching staff also saw a significant shake-up. Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff departed their positions, replaced by Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig, signaling a new direction at the helm. "We've promised change and we think we've executed that," Eversley said. "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 prepare for the upcoming season, they do so with a refreshed roster and a new strategy. Despite owing their 2025 first-round draft pick to the Spurs (with top-10 protection), the Bulls are poised to build on their current foundation. Their journey from clearing out veterans to ushering in a new era of youth and potential is a gamble, but one they hope will finally reverse their fortunes and return Chicago to the upper echelons of NBA success.