The Bulls Are Stuck in NBA Purgatory - And Time's Running Out
For Bulls fans, the last five years have felt like a treadmill set to nowhere. One playoff win.
Three straight seasons finishing between the eighth and tenth seeds. A .500 record stretched across four long years.
That’s not rebuilding. That’s not contending.
That’s just… existing.
And that’s exactly the problem.
Chicago’s front office has made a string of decisions that, in hindsight, feel like missed opportunities stacked on top of each other. The Nikola Vucevic trade was supposed to be the spark - instead, it’s become a cautionary tale.
Zach LaVine was extended when his trade value was peaking, only to see that value dip while his contract ballooned. Patrick Williams, once a high-upside pick, has been extended without proving he can be a foundational piece.
And through it all, head coach Billy Donovan and executive Artūras Karnišovas remain at the helm, guiding a ship that’s been drifting for years.
Now, with the 2026 trade deadline looming and seven expiring contracts on the books, the Bulls find themselves at a rare - and incredibly valuable - crossroads. They’re staring down a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class and a potential $90 million in cap space this summer.
That’s a dream scenario for any front office: flexibility, financial freedom, and a clear path toward retooling or rebuilding. But instead of leaning into that opportunity, the Bulls seem to be hesitating.
And hesitation, at this stage, is its own kind of decision.
A Franchise Comfortable in the Middle
So why the inaction? Why does this team continue to hover around .500, never bad enough to tank, never good enough to matter?
Look no further than the business side of basketball.
The Bulls are consistently near the top of the league in attendance. They’re a major-market franchise with a loyal fanbase and a brand that still carries weight from the Jordan era.
That kind of consistency at the gate makes ownership less inclined to rock the boat. When the bottom line looks good, aggressive moves - especially risky ones - can be seen as unnecessary.
But in the NBA, playing it safe rarely gets you anywhere. And right now, Chicago is proving that in real time.
According to sources close to the team, the Bulls have cooled on the idea of selling off key veterans. Nikola Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu were once considered possible trade chips, but now appear more likely to stay put. Coby White, enjoying a breakout season, could walk in free agency if he isn’t dealt by the deadline - and unless Karnišovas gets an offer he deems worthy, it sounds like that’s exactly what might happen.
That’s a dangerous game. Letting talent walk without recouping value is how teams stay stuck. And it’s not the first time this front office has let that happen.
Karnišovas on the Hot Seat
Perhaps the most frustrating part of all this is that Karnišovas hasn’t just failed to deliver results - he’s failed to deliver on his own promises.
Since arriving in Chicago, he’s consistently told fans that mediocrity is not the goal. That the team is committed to winning.
That chasing a Play-In berth isn’t enough. But actions speak louder than press conferences, and the results on the court have told a different story.
One playoff win in six seasons. No top-tier draft picks.
No meaningful postseason runs. Just a lot of waiting, hoping, and spinning in place.
Karnišovas has asked for patience, but the results haven’t backed up the rhetoric. And with the trade deadline fast approaching, this may be his final chance to prove he can lead this franchise in the right direction.
A Pivotal Deadline
This is the most flexible position the Bulls have found themselves in over the past decade. They have financial freedom, movable contracts, and a chance to either pivot toward a full rebuild or swing big for a star. But instead of seizing that moment, they’re flirting with more of the same.
If they stand pat again - if they let expiring deals walk, if they hold onto players with no clear long-term role, if they once again prioritize short-term stability over long-term vision - it’s hard to see a way forward under the current regime.
The Bulls don’t need to tank. They don’t need to chase a superstar just for the sake of it.
But they do need to pick a direction. Because right now, they’re stuck in the NBA’s worst spot: the middle.
And if they don’t move soon, they might be stuck there for a while.