At the heart of the Chicago Bulls' strategy for a fresh start, the offices of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley overlook the basketball courts where dreams of revival play out. The sliding glass doors of their offices, leading to an indoor balcony, symbolize transparency and direct oversight of the team they have meticulously structured.
Karnisovas, the Bulls' vice president of basketball operations, has taken a proactive approach, seeking input from the front office, coaches, and players to enact a new vision. This initiative comes after another season of disappointment, where the Bulls were eliminated on the road by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. This marked the sixth time in seven years the team missed the playoffs, and the third such instance in Karnisovas' four-year tenure. "I take full responsibility," Karnisovas stated in a press conference, reflecting his commitment to accountability.
Roster Overhaul
Significant changes were executed, starting with letting go of DeMar DeRozan in free agency, trading away Alex Caruso, and allowing Andre Drummond to leave. In their place, the Bulls added youthful talent with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith, aiming to infuse the team with energy and potential. As Marc Eversley, the general manager, explained, "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."
DeRozan's departure marks the end of an era. In his farewell, he expressed heartfelt gratitude: "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." Eversley also acknowledged DeRozan's contributions and aspirations: "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."
Coaching Changes and Training Camp
The coaching staff also saw a shake-up with the departure of Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff, replaced by Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. Additionally, for the first time in nearly 40 years, the Bulls held their training camp outside of Chicago, opting for Belmont University in Nashville. This move signifies a break from tradition, potentially symbolizing a fresh start for the team.
Challenges and Hopes
Despite these changes, the Bulls faced challenges. At the trade deadline, their record stood at 24-27, sparking debates about whether to unload veterans or push for the play-in tournament. Ultimately, they chose the latter, retaining Drummond and Caruso, though DeRozan consistently advocated staying in Chicago throughout the season. The final decision saw Caruso traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey, and DeRozan involved in a sign-and-trade with the Kings, where he received a three-year, $74 million contract.
The Bulls' star, Zach LaVine, who had season-ending surgery in February, has fully recovered and is set to return for the upcoming season. LaVine’s relationship with coach Billy Donovan has been strained in recent years, leading to speculation about his future. A team source commented, "He's never won, he's done it his way the whole way and never won. If he's interested in winning, he'll do what's asked of him."
Looking Forward
Marc Eversley remains optimistic about LaVine's return: "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."
The Bulls have made promises of change, and Eversley believes they have delivered: "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." With a blend of new talent, revamped coaching, and the return of key players, the Bulls hope to navigate their way back to playoff contention and possibly beyond.