AT THE HEAD of a row of cubicles, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley maintain a strategic vantage point over their Chicago Bulls team. From their indoor balconies, they survey the roster they've meticulously constructed and cultivated.
Karnisovas, the Bulls vice president of basketball operations, has spent the offseason soliciting ideas from his front office, coaches, and players—a bid to reshape the team's vision after another early playoff exit. For the second straight season, the Bulls were ousted on the road by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, marking their sixth playoff miss in seven years and the third time in Karnisovas' four-year tenure. "I take full responsibility," he stated during a press conference.
A Youth Movement
In pursuit of a new direction, the Bulls made bold moves in the offseason. DeMar DeRozan, after three impactful seasons, found a new home in free agency. Alex Caruso was traded, and the Bulls let Andre Drummond walk. This exodus of veteran talent in their 30s paved the way for a younger core: Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith—all players in their 20s who bring fresh energy and potential for growth.
"We've gone young," Eversley noted. "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."
Key Departures and Acquisitions
The team’s reconstruction wasn’t just about youth infusion; significant trades also reshaped the roster. Caruso was moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Giddey, a sign-and-trade with the Kings landed DeRozan a new three-year, $74 million contract.
DeRozan expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt farewell: "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 further 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."
Challenges and Changes
Last season's struggles were compounded by Zach LaVine’s injury. A season-ending surgery in February sidelined him during a critical stretch. Although now fully recovered, LaVine has had a history of clashes with coach Billy Donovan. "The most unfortunate situation for Zach last year was that he got hurt," Eversley commented. "When he came back, he was pretty good and the team was pretty good. Small sample size, but we can build off that."
Major coaching shifts also took place. Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff departed, succeeded by Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. These changes reflect the organization's commitment to a new direction.
Building for the Future
The team’s trajectory was evident as they chose to hold onto some veteran talent, including Drummond and Caruso, to secure their play-in tournament spot for a second consecutive season. "We've promised change and we think we've executed that," Eversley asserted. "I think the changes being made at all levels of the organization are positive ones."
In an interesting shift, the Bulls held their training camp outside Chicago for the first time in nearly 40 years, gathering instead at Belmont University in Nashville. Coby White's impressive season—finishing second in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award—adds another layer of excitement for the future. However, the looming loss of their 2025 first-round draft pick to the Spurs, albeit top-10 protected, hangs over the organization.
Ultimately, Karnisovas and Eversley have injected youth and energy into the Bulls with the hope of creating a longer runway to success. "We need to have a summer like 2021," Karnisovas mentioned, recalling a previous off-season that set high expectations.
With these moves, the Bulls are banking on youthful vigor and strategic changes to break their playoff drought and build a sustainable path to future success. The organization now enters a critical phase to see if the groundwork laid will translate into victories on the court.