At the helm of the Chicago Bulls’ basketball operations sits Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, occupying offices that oversee the team's practice courts through glass doors that open to an indoor balcony. This proximity allows them to have a direct line of sight to the team they are striving to rebuild.
The necessity for reconstruction became glaringly evident after the Bulls missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, having been eliminated on the road by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. This marked the third time in Karnisovas’ four-year tenure that the team fell short of the playoffs. Addressing the media, Karnisovas took "full responsibility" for the team's shortcomings.
Youth Movement in Chicago
In a bid to rejuvenate the roster, the Bulls moved away from their aging core. DeMar DeRozan was allowed to find a new home in free agency, and the team traded away Alex Caruso and let Andre Drummond walk. In their place came youthful prospects: Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith—all in their twenties and brimming with potential. "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," noted Marc Eversley.
Acknowledging DeRozan's Departure
DeRozan's departure left a significant void, both on the court and in the locker room. In a heartfelt farewell, 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." While the Bulls’ brass were sad to see him go, Eversley acknowledged the necessity of the decision: "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."
Changes in the Coaching Staff
The team's overhaul wasn't confined to the roster; it extended to the coaching staff as well. Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff departed, making way for Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. This shift in the coaching seat was part of a larger effort to deliver on Karnisovas’ promise 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," he remarked.
Hope in Familiar Faces
Despite the roster shake-up, the Bulls decided to hold onto some of their veteran talents during the trade deadline. Both Drummond and Caruso, initially considered for trades, remained on the roster as the team prioritized making the play-in tournament again. Notably, Zach LaVine, recovering from season-ending surgery in February, is set to rejoin the team fully fit. Eversley commented on LaVine’s tough season: "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. Simply put, we're looking forward to having him come back to training camp and joining the team."
Looking Forward
The future remains cautiously optimistic for the Bulls. The team finished 24-27 at the trade deadline, and the emphasis on younger talent signals a strategic pivot towards long-term success. The recent training camp, held outside Chicago for the first time in nearly 40 years at Belmont University in Nashville, symbolized a fresh start. Karnisovas summarized the offseason goal succinctly: "We need to have a summer like 2021."
As the Bulls prepare for the upcoming season, the hope is that the changes, both on and off the court, will translate to success and finally break the cycle of disappointment that has plagued the franchise in recent years. The commitment to youth, new coaching, and retaining key players like LaVine all point to an organization ready to turn the corner. The road ahead may be challenging, but the steps taken this offseason indicate a clear, calculated effort to reclaim the glory days that fans desperately long for.