At the heart of the Chicago Bulls’ operations, overlooking the basketball courts, are the offices of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, the vice president of basketball operations and general manager, respectively. Their offices feature sliding glass doors that open to indoor balconies, allowing them to keep a close eye on the team they've painstakingly put together. The view, both literal and metaphorical, captures a team in transition—a squad seeking resurgence amidst past disappointments.
Karnisovas recently began seeking new ideas from other members of the front office, coaches, and players, laying the groundwork for a fresh vision. This new approach comes after the Bulls missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years, being eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament for the second consecutive season. In a move of accountability not frequently seen, Karnisovas candidly declared he took "full responsibility" for the team’s shortcomings.
Major changes soon followed. The Bulls opted to let DeMar DeRozan explore opportunities elsewhere in free agency, traded away Alex Caruso, and allowed Andre Drummond to find a new home. This strategic shift aimed to infuse the team with younger talent, replacing each player in their 30s with those in their 20s: Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith. Marc Eversley encapsulated this philosophy, stating, "We need to have a summer like 2021. 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."
Perhaps the most poignant part of this transition was the farewell of DeMar DeRozan, a player who has left an indelible mark on the organization and its fans. In his parting words, DeRozan expressed, "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 mirrored these sentiments, acknowledging, "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."
The Bulls also welcomed fresh leadership on the coaching front, replacing Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff with Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. This change in coaching personnel signifies a concerted effort to align the team’s on-court strategies with its rejuvenated roster.
However, the journey hasn’t been devoid of setbacks. Zach LaVine, a cornerstone for the Bulls, had season-ending surgery in February. Despite his full recovery, LaVine’s relationship with coach Billy Donovan has been strained. A team source noted, "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." The dynamic between LaVine and Donovan will be critical as the team moves forward.
Even with these internal challenges, the Bulls are committed to change. Eversley emphasized, "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."
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Bulls held their training camp outside of Chicago, gathering at Belmont University in Nashville. This move symbolizes a break from tradition and an embrace of new beginnings. Heading into the new season with a 24-27 record at the trade deadline, the Bulls elected to prioritize making the play-in tournament for a second consecutive year rather than offloading their experienced players. They held onto Drummond and Caruso, but eventually traded Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Josh Giddey, further underscoring their commitment to younger talent.
As the Chicago Bulls navigate this pivotal juncture, the organizational ethos remains focused on long-term success. The actions and decisions, both difficult and strategic, reflect a determination to rebuild a team capable of sustaining success over multiple seasons. The upcoming season promises to be a crucial test of this vision, as the Bulls seek not only to make the playoffs but to redefine what Chicago basketball can be in this new era.