The Chicago Bulls are stepping back onto the court this Thursday, and while the NBA hasn't fast-tracked any season changes, it's clear that games still need to be played. The trade deadline has left the Bulls with a mix of new faces, mostly around 6’2”, sparking conversations about a potential rebuild-or even a tanking strategy. It’s a move that suggests a new direction, albeit a bit late in the season.
Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls' executive, has been at the center of these changes, though it might be premature to heap praise on him just yet. His recent press conference echoed familiar themes, despite a noticeably altered roster.
The core now includes players like Josh Giddey and Matas, along with some role players and the untested Noa Essengue. The goal?
To acquire young players with experience while maintaining structure, which is why Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu were retained last year.
Head coach Billy Donovan plays a crucial role in player development, determining who gets minutes during the regular season. Karnisovas has consistently noted that the trade deadline can unsettle a team.
Last year, after trading Zach LaVine for three rotation players, the Bulls stumbled against the Pistons before the All-Star break, only to finish strong with a 15-5 run. Karnisovas saw this as a sign of progress, despite acknowledging the team's mediocrity.
The Bulls' current approach seems to skip some crucial steps in rebuilding. Instead of focusing on improving draft picks or acquiring long-term assets, they’ve leaned towards experienced youth needing new contracts soon. This strategy was evident at the trade deadline, where they didn't fully commit to a rebuild.
Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton were acquired out of necessity rather than desire, and the team didn’t flip them quickly enough. Rob Dillingham, a promising 21-year-old in his second season, represents a blend of youth and experience. Meanwhile, Jaden Ivey, younger than Coby and Ayo, was acquired for Kevin Huerter but faces a murky contract situation due to his injury history.
On the fringes, the Bulls swapped 22-year-old Leonard Miller for Julian Phillips of the same age and traded Dalen Terry for a veteran. Ousmane Dieng was quickly rerouted to the Bucks, where he’s already shown productivity.
The Bulls’ player development philosophy emphasizes structure over opportunity. Although they got younger at the deadline, they haven’t fully embraced using the remaining games as a testing ground. Losing a few games wouldn't be the worst outcome, considering their current standing.
If they were truly rebuilding, they wouldn't worry about cohesion or feel the need for veteran frontcourt players when younger options are available. Karnisovas wouldn’t defer playing time decisions to Donovan, who has significant influence and shares the same win-now mentality.
This approach creates a disconnect, especially with players like Dillingham who have appreciated their playing time. However, Donovan is focused on his core group, including Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Jalen Smith, returning to action. Whether Dillingham and Ivey will see significant minutes remains uncertain, as veteran bigs like Guerschon Yabusele and Nick Richards are favored.
The Bulls' strategy remains a mix of attempting to win now while claiming to rebuild. It’s a familiar pattern for the franchise, caught between two philosophies but not fully committing to either.