The Bulls front office, led by team president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, needs to get candid about its roster intentions as the trade deadline nears, opines Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
As Cowley writes, head coach Billy Donovan, not Karnisovas or Eversley, has been compelled to answer reporters’ questions about Chicago’s long-term plans. The team occupies something of a no-man’s land for now. After trading DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso over the summer but retaining many talented veterans and bringing in Josh Giddey, the Bulls are in more or less the same terrain they were in last year.
At 18-24, the Bulls are the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. They finished at No. 9 last season and were eliminated in the play-in tournament. They’re competent enough to at least be in the postseason conversation again, but are likely to miss the playoffs proper for the third straight season while still being at risk of losing their top-10 protected 2025 first round-pick.
Cowley suggests that Karnisovas owes reporters and fans a frank discussion of his intentions moving forward with the team.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- It may be time for the NBA to revive its Comeback Player of the Year award, in part to reward players like Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, posits Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. The award lasted for six seasons before the league ultimately replaced it with its Most Improved Player honor. Ball overcame formidable odds to return from a two-and-a-half-year, three-surgery layoff, once again becoming a consistent contributor for Chicago.
- The Pacers have a long-term decision to make about the fate of their fifth starter, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Reserve wing Bennedict Mathurin performed admirably while filling in for injured starter Aaron Nesmith, who returned to action this week. Nesmith reclaimed his starting spot on Thursday on a minutes limit while Mathurin served a one-game suspension; Mathurin took it back on Saturday a 115-102 victory against Philadelphia. Nesmith has yet to play more than 11 minutes in either of his first two games back, and Dopirak predicts that, until he can reliably play 30 minutes a night, Mathurin will continue to start. Dopirak takes a look at what each player can bring to the table as a starter.
- The standout Cavaliers have earned an “A-plus” grade midway through their 2024/25 season, opines Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber exclusive). Cleveland is the top seed in the East, sporting a 35-6 record, and looks like it could send three or even four players to the All-Star Game next month. Under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, the team appears to have taken a leap and become a true-blue title contender.
Bulls need to make everyone available for trade.
This season, the worst place is play-in spots.
Are you proud of play-in games?
For all the teams that make it to the play-in spots but miss the playoffs, I give them Grade F.
There are only two super teams in the nba – Suns and 76ers. Now both teams are 11th seed.
Letting go of Drummond hurt them too. They could have had some decent 2nd round picks for him but decided to the play in revenue. Thanks Jerry!
Lol they should rename the play-in the Reinsdorf tourney
They should have retained him and Javonte
If they make a single trade, I’ll be pleasantly surprised. Expecting none.
Clearly not taking keeping their pick seriously at all. (Although continuing to start Williams must be their only tanking indication so far)
Can’t count on Philly passing them given embiid basically done this year.
At a bare minimum, should be able to find a Vuc taker. GS for some combo of Payton/Anderson/Waters etc and 3 seconds seems realistic.
Problem with the warriors trade is Payton Looney Waters is not enough money for them (Gsw ) to add 2 players back and stay under apron 1 where they are capped so its ineligible
Most likely it would have to be Payton Looney AND Anderson and at that point your taking essentially 10 M back next year on Anderson to shed Vu’s 20. Makes less sense for Chi now and a possible hold more likelier if that’s the best offer out there (just might be)
Valid, but I would argue it’s worth it for bulls to move off Vuc asap bc he’s been playing well enough to jeopardize their pick this year.
Worth taking 70 cents on the dollar if it means getting a FRP essentially
third trams can facilitate
Convinced that Karnisovas got blackout drunk, signed PatWills extension, and has remained passed out in an intoxicated slumber ever since
How Arturas still has his job is the question that needs to be answered.
Bulls organization does not care about winning or the fans, their true intentions are to make a play in and pocket the gate revenue while they talk about some fake competitive idea that’s utter delusions
Bull’s are the 10 seed, not the 9 seed.
I think teams like the Bulls who suck but are good enough to make the play in year in year out are the reason the NBA will never get rid of or change the eastern/western conference’s. They can be mediocre but still scrap into important games and the owners continue to make money.
If you look out west even the bad teams like the Kings really really battle to try and be better.
If the Bulls don’t pull a trade. A new GM is a must. Now we know why MJ is so great he won in Chicago. Giddey to the spurs would be good for both.
Giddey, Buzelis, White and Ayo should be the only assets kept. All they need is a coach who can have a system they can play successfully. It’s not perfect but it’s a start. Phillips might be of use but anything else can and should be gone. Clear money, Get all the draft picks you can, Fill in the blanks. Bulls FO talk about their plans? What plans? This is the organization that can’t even admit it needs a PF. Worst constructed roster I’ve ever seen. They’ve drafted SG’s who can’t shoot, SF’ they try to make PF’s and Bench players they don’t need. It’s truly an amazing catastrophe.
Wish that the Bulls had not made the Caruso for Giddey trade. Bulls have too many guards. Bull should have waited or tried to receive something other than Giddey. What the Bulls lack is size and athleticism on their front line. Only have three tall players Vucevic, Smith and Buzelis. Vucevic has a high skill level but isn’t athletic and it remains to be seen if Buzelis will turn out to be a good player.
Bulls shouldn’t be in love with Coby White. Understand that White hustles and can hit 3s. White isn’t even close to players such as Brunson, Donovan Mitchell and SGA. LaVine is the only great talent on the Bulls.
The Bulls should have gotten at least a first round pick AND Giddey for Caruso. He was worth more than they got. Getting only one asset for Caruso just proves how inept they are. Other teams were supposed to be offering multiple 1st rounders. White can stay or go. I wouldn’t trade him for anything less than a 1st rounder or it makes no sense to move him. He’s an elite sorer who’s improved every year despite Donavan and actually makes less than Williams if you can believe that. His agent sucks.
Agreed. As you say, Bulls should have gotten more than just Giddey. Understand White is a good player. Just don’t believe he can carry a team. White will get a lot more money after the 2025-2-26 season one way or another.