At the Chicago Bulls' headquarters, the offices of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, the team’s vice president of basketball operations and general manager respectively, overlook the basketball courts below. These offices, equipped with sliding glass doors leading to indoor balconies, provide Karnisovas and Eversley with a direct view of the team they have constructed.
Karnisovas, embracing feedback from the front office, coaches, and players, sought to implement a bold new vision. After the Bulls were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament for the second consecutive season, missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years, he understood the need for change. "I take full responsibility," Karnisovas declared during a press conference.
A New Roster, A New Hope
The Bulls made significant roster changes, parting ways with key veterans. DeMar DeRozan found a new home in free agency, Alex Caruso was traded, and Andre Drummond was let go. Emphasizing youth, the Bulls brought in players like Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Jalen Smith to replace their older counterparts. Marc Eversley explained the rationale behind these moves: "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."
The team also saw individual accomplishments despite collective struggles. Coby White finished second in the voting for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, highlighting the potential within the squad.
Change Beyond The Roster
In a move that broke from nearly 40 years of tradition, the Bulls held their training camp on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, instead of Chicago. This fresh environment was part of the broader changes within the organization. By the trade deadline, the Bulls held a 24-27 record but prioritized making the play-in tournament rather than dismantling the roster entirely, ultimately retaining both Drummond and Caruso.
Despite DeRozan's desire to stay in Chicago, the Bulls traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Giddey. Eversley acknowledged the difficulty of this decision but believed it was necessary for both parties. "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."
Welcoming New Leadership
On the coaching front, there was also significant turnover. Mo Cheeks, Chris Fleming, and Josh Longstaff departed from their positions, making way for Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig. This fresh coaching perspective aims to align more closely with the renewed vision and youthful energy of the team.
Looking Ahead with Restored Health
Zach LaVine’s return to full health is another pivotal component as the Bulls head into the new season. Having undergone surgery in February, LaVine has recovered and is ready to contribute from the start of the season. Despite past clashes with Coach Billy Donovan, Marc Eversley expressed optimism about LaVine’s comeback. "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."
As the Bulls move forward, they do so with the awareness of significant changes at every level of the organization. "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," Eversley stated.
It’s an era of transformation for the Chicago Bulls, one marked by strategic decisions to embrace youth, talent, and new leadership, with the hope that these changes will steer them towards a more promising future in the NBA landscape.