The Chicago Bulls didn’t just dip a toe into the trade waters this week - they cannonballed in. Seven trades before the deadline sent a clear message from the front office: mediocrity is no longer acceptable.
After three straight seasons stuck in the NBA’s play-in purgatory and a first-round playoff exit back in 2022, vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas made it clear - the Bulls are done treading water.
“The play-in is not our goal,” Karnišovas said. “A championship is.”
That’s not just lip service. The Bulls’ flurry of moves signals a philosophical shift - one that prioritizes youth, flexibility, and a longer view of contention.
While Karnišovas stopped short of calling it a rebuild, the writing’s on the wall: this is a roster reset. Chicago is now leaning into development, collecting draft capital, and keeping its financial books clean for the future.
Among the new core: Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue - three young talents the Bulls believe can be foundational pieces. Giddey brings playmaking and size in the backcourt, Buzelis is a high-upside forward with local ties and star potential, and Essengue offers a raw but intriguing frontcourt presence. It’s a group that won’t turn the Bulls into contenders overnight, but it gives them a direction - something that’s been missing in recent years.
One of the more interesting wrinkles? Karnišovas, who’s previously downplayed the value of second-round picks, now seems to be embracing them. After adding eight second-rounders during the deadline frenzy, he acknowledged their growing importance in today’s NBA.
“Second-rounders are a currency in our industry,” he said. “You cannot operate and acquire players and trade players without them.”
It’s a notable pivot, and it reflects how front offices across the league are adapting. Second-round picks may not always become stars, but they offer flexibility - whether as sweeteners in trades, low-cost contributors, or lottery tickets in a deep draft.
Of course, the Bulls’ timing with some of their moves is still up for debate. Players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu had higher trade value in previous windows, but the team held onto them until they were nearing unrestricted free agency. That meant selling lower than they might’ve hoped - but Karnišovas doesn’t see it that way.
“You don’t want to lose your free agents for nothing,” he said. “Right now it’s a good timing, and we addressed it.”
Head coach Billy Donovan, for his part, isn’t going anywhere. He’s bought into the process, even if the path ahead is uncertain.
“What’s important to me is the mentality, the competitiveness,” Donovan said. “Things can happen quickly too.”
He pointed to examples like Detroit and Boston - teams that seemed stuck before flipping the script. Whether Chicago can follow that blueprint remains to be seen, but Donovan’s message is clear: stay the course, stay competitive, and let the chips fall where they may.
One of the more intriguing new faces in the Bulls’ locker room is Guerschon Yabusele. The French forward waived his $5.8 million player option to facilitate a trade to Chicago - a move driven by his desire to get back on the court. And in his Bulls debut, he made the most of it: 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists in 33 minutes.
“I did give up the player option because I wanted to play basketball at the end of the day,” Yabusele said. “Just being out there with those guys, it’s been amazing.”
It’s the kind of performance that may not shake up the standings, but it reflects the new Bulls ethos - hungry players, real minutes, and a chance to prove something.
Another player hoping to reignite his career in Chicago is Rob Dillingham. The 2024 lottery pick never found his footing in Minnesota, but the Bulls are offering a fresh start.
“Really just confidence - confidence from my teammates, confidence from my coaches, and really confidence in myself,” Dillingham said. “I’m just waiting for the spark to come back.”
That’s the theme in Chicago right now: rediscovering identity, rebuilding trust in the process, and lighting a spark for the future. The front office is still the same, and skepticism around their ability to execute this new vision is fair. But for the first time in a while, the Bulls have picked a lane - and they’re finally moving forward.