At the forefront of the Chicago Bulls' front office, overlooking the team's practice courts, are the offices of Arturas Karnisovas, the vice president of basketball operations, and Marc Eversley, the general manager. These offices, with their sliding glass doors and indoor balconies, stand as modern watchtowers where the architects of the team can closely monitor their creation.
Karnisovas, taking full responsibility for the team's recent shortcomings, has embarked on a mission to transform the Bulls. "We need to have a summer like 2021," he declared, signaling a desire for a rejuvenating off-season. Despite missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years, including the third time in his four-year tenure, Karnisovas remains committed to his vision.
Youth Movement
This vision has resulted in significant roster changes. Veteran players like DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond have moved on, replaced by younger talents such as Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith. "We've gone young," explained Eversley. "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."
Coby White's breakout season, which saw him finish second in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, adds a bright spot to the Bulls' youth-centric approach. This pivot towards youth is part of the broader strategy to build a team capable of long-term success.
Farewell to DeRozan
The departure of DeRozan, a key figure for the Bulls over the past three seasons, was a poignant moment for the organization. In a heartfelt farewell, DeRozan expressed gratitude for the support he received: "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 acknowledged the challenge of letting DeRozan go. "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. And arguably, we're not in that situation right now. As much as it hurt to let him go, I'm extremely happy for him."
Season-Ending Surgery and Conflict
Star guard Zach LaVine faced his own set of challenges, undergoing season-ending surgery in February. Despite this setback, LaVine has fully recovered and is ready for the new season. His relationship with head coach Billy Donovan has been tumultuous, with a team source noting, "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. And if he's motivated to not be here, one way is to come, be compliant and be who he is."
Eversley is 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. Simply put, we're looking forward to having him come back to training camp and joining the team."
Coaching Changes and Draft Concerns
Significant shifts have also occurred in the coaching staff. Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff have all departed, replaced by Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. These changes aim to inject new energy and ideas into the team's strategy and development.
Looking ahead, the Bulls owe their 2025 first-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs, though it is top-10 protected. This adds an extra layer of pressure on the team to perform well in the coming seasons to avoid losing a valuable asset.
Training camp will also see a change of scenery, with the Bulls holding their sessions outside of Chicago for the first time in nearly 40 years. Belmont University in Nashville will host the team, providing a fresh environment to kick-start the season.
Despite the numerous challenges and changes, the Bulls remain focused on their goal of returning to the playoffs. As Eversley succinctly put it, "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."