At the top of the Chicago Bulls' front office hierarchy sit Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley. Their offices, positioned at the head of a row of cubicles, provide a panoramic view of the basketball courts below, symbolizing their oversight and control over the team they have meticulously constructed.
Karnisovas has taken a proactive approach to reshape the team by soliciting ideas from various stakeholders, including other executives, coaches, and players, to bring a fresh vision to the Bulls' organization.
A Season of Change
For the second consecutive year, the Bulls faced elimination on the road at the hands of the Miami Heat during the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, resulting in their sixth playoff miss in seven years and third in Karnisovas' four-year tenure. In a press conference, Karnisovas took "full responsibility" for the setbacks.
The off-season saw significant roster changes. The team let DeMar DeRozan explore free agency, traded away Alex Caruso, and allowed Andre Drummond to leave. These moves were part of a broader strategy to infuse youth into the roster, replacing players in their 30s with younger talents like Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith.
Marc Eversley encapsulated the strategic shift, stating, "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."
An Emotional Farewell
DeRozan, who had expressed a desire to stay in Chicago, eventually agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings. He inked a new three-year, $74 million contract with the Kings. In his farewell message, DeRozan expressed his gratitude to the Bulls' fans: "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."
Marc Eversley also reflected on DeRozan's departure: "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."
Ups and Downs
The tumultuous season also saw Coby White finishing second in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, a bright spot amidst the challenges. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine underwent season-ending surgery in February but has since fully recovered and is expected to be ready for the next season. Eversley commented on LaVine's situation: "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."
LaVine's relationship with head coach Billy Donovan has had its rocky moments. According to a team source, "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."
Coaching Shifts
The Bulls' coaching staff also underwent significant changes with the departures of Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff. They were replaced by Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig, signaling a new direction in the team's coaching strategy.
Karnisovas and Eversley seem committed to following through with their promises of change. "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," Eversley remarked.
The Road Ahead
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Bulls decided to hold their training camp outside of Chicago, opting for the campus of Belmont University in Nashville. As the season progressed, the team found themselves with a 24-27 record at the trade deadline. Despite the pressures, they prioritized making the play-in tournament for a second consecutive year instead of trading their veteran talent.
The Bulls hold onto potential as they move forward. Although they owe their 2025 first-round draft pick to the Spurs, it is top-10 protected, giving them some flexibility. The coming season will reveal whether the new roster and coaching changes will help reverse their fortunes and bring them back into playoff contention.