The Bulls sat out the trade deadline for the third straight season, NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson observes. The Bulls spent months working on a potential Zach LaVine trade but after his season-ending injury, they began to weigh other options. The team fielded offers for Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond and had “cursory conversations” regarding DeRozan, maintaining they stayed active despite not making a move.
“We didn’t see anything that was going to make us better. We would take a step back, which we don’t want. We want to stay competitive,” general manager Artūras Karnišovas said. “We have an obligation to this organization and this fan base and this city to stay competitive and compete for the playoffs. That’s what we’re doing.”
The Warriors engaged the Bulls on talks with Caruso but in any potential deal, Chicago seemed to covet Jonathan Kuminga. When that offer was rebuffed, the Bulls told teams they didn’t want to trade Caruso, especially for a package of other young pieces like Moses Moody, according to Johnson. They would have had to be floored by an offer to move Caruso.
Drummond drew interest too, but the Bulls expressed to other teams they wished to remain competitive and potential landing spots like the Sixers and Mavericks sent their second-round draft capital elsewhere.
While there was some internal discussion about selling off pieces and reshaping the roster, upper management pushed those decisions to the offseason, Johnson writes. In the summer, it’s likely the Bulls will discuss LaVine trades again while they face decisions on the contract statuses of DeRozan and Patrick Williams. The Bulls have one open roster spot and are under the luxury tax, so they could be in the market for buyout players. We addressed Chicago’s potential interest in Joe Harris earlier Thursday.
We have more notes on the Bulls:
- There was no significant offer out there for DeMar DeRozan, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, appearing on The Rally (Twitter link). There were a few interested teams but uncertainty regarding whether DeRozan would re-sign when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason was an inhibiting factor in getting a deal done. According to Charania, the Bulls want to keep DeRozan “long term.”
- Charania echoed Johnson and said the Bulls had a “very high price” on Caruso, which other teams weren’t willing to meet. Charania says Chicago feels like keeping this core together is its best path forward.
- DeRozan expressed a desire to remain with the Bulls on Thursday, according to Johnson. “It’s kind of like with your spouse. It’s a relationship. It’s like, ‘What do we need to do to work on this, baby?’” DeRozan said, smiling. “‘Let’s figure this thing out. You want me. I want you.’ The love is there.” Karnišovas expressed a similar sentiment, Johnson tweets. “I love DeMar,” Karnišovas said. “He’s huge for this team, this city, this organization.“
- LaVine underwent right foot surgery on Thursday, according to Johnson. He was previously ruled out for the rest of the season. “We’re going to miss him,” Karnišovas said. “But we’ll see him soon and wish him well his recovery.” The original recovery timeline was four-to-six months, but according to Johnson, he could be back to basketball activities in closer to three months. He would still miss the rest of the season but could begin his typical offseason work.
- The bigger question regarding LaVine is his future with the organization, Johnson writes. As mentioned, the team held trade talks regarding him last offseason and before the deadline. However, Johnson’s source close to LaVine emphasizes he never specifically asked to be traded. “I don’t have any concerns,” Karnišovas said on whether he worried if failing to find a trade would impact the relationship between the two sides. “I think Zach wants to win. Bottom line, we’re a better team with Zach on the team. It’s as simple as that.“
This organization is a joke, AK proved in his press conference that he has no clue what he’s doin, he has no vision to improve, any fan who spends a single dollar on this team isn’t a real fan
For better or worse, AK is clinging to the version of this bulls team w so that was first in the East w a healthy zo. Hard to blame his wishful thinking, that team was so fun.
AKME are literally basketball terrorists.
Bulls GM lives in fantasy land thinking he could get Kuminga for Caruso. Moody and TJD is a fair offer of 2 young players with upside for Caruso.
I don’t blame bulls for holding firm. Much rather have Caruso than either of those guys.
Bulls started the season 5-14. Since then 20-13. Not wrong that AKME believe that the current team has earned the right to try for the playoffs. Understand that realistically the Bulls can’t get through the teams above Boston, Milwaukee, Cleveland, NY and Philadelphia plus Miami and Orlando. The Bulls can give the players and their fans a couple of weeks of playoff basketball.
They certainly can’t get there this year, but getting lonzo back plus whatever they can get in an offseason Zach trade will hopefully have them contending for a top 4 seed again
Doubt Lonzo will ever be back. Bulls just have to eat Lonzo’s remaining $21.4 million. Just the way it goes. Doubt LaVine can be traded until other teams see him on the floor again. The Bull’s best scenario is for LaVine to make a recovery and be the offensive player that he has been when fully healthy.
Man your guy are delusional.
Earned the right to stay together and try make the playoffs. I’m guaranteeing you that was the preseason goal, playoffs were the benchmark and your saying these guys deserve to stay together cause they might possibly reach the minimum expectation.
I don’t want to hear it’s because Zach was out, you play better with Zach out of the team. Same with Vuce, Drummond was better.
Better yet if you know you’re not better than the top teams why even bother, why not try rebuild and retool for the future….
Then your mate, getting Lonzo back after he’s had almost 3 years out the game makes you a top 4 seed. Yeah sure may aswell get Micheal Jordan out of retirement while you’re at it and go undefeated. You’ll be lucky to get anything for Zach cause your stupid front office gave him a terrible contract just like what they have to Vuce. DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Andre Drummond they are all free agents and why would they bother returning to this terrible team.
Well someone’s cranky. I’m not making any guarantees, simply trying to have optimism abt it. Yes of course there’s a good chance it goes south and they have to finally bite the bullet and blow the team up.
But there’s also a chance that things can improve. Yea Zach’s contract isn’t great but even if we jus take expirings and a pick or 2 it’s addition by subtraction. Coby and ayo is backcourt of the future anyways . And yea duh no guarantees abt lonzo but guys have made similar comebacks before. And part of my optimism is despite all the flaws w this team they were genuinely good before zo went down.
To he clear , if I were AKME I would’ve traded demar at deadline and resign pat to play the 3. Rly glad they kept AC tho.
Name one ‘similar comeback’ – not possible because the surgery he had is experimental at this time.
Bulls are a disgrace
“We have an obligation to this organization and this fan base and this city to stay competitive and compete for the playoffs. That’s what we’re doing.”
That’s exactly why you’re not doing.
Your 25-27 with the hawks, nets and Raptors right behind you and even if you make it in and past the play in your getting swept in the first round. Not the city nor the fans wanted to see you do nothing like you’ve done for the last three years. Give them optimism buy making a trade and shaking things up or better yet trade for a young player and build for the future cause clearly your not winning anything right now.
AK and Donovan both need the sack
Ok so what’s the trade they should’ve made? Everyone loves to play hypothetical gm, so I’m sure u know the offers that they had on the table?
Nobody is playing the hypothetical GM game, these were the deals I would have made:
1) Caruso and Drummond for Moody and GPII and 2026 1st round top 5 protection. It solves GSW issues for rebounding and perimeter defense and bench. Bulls get a defensive replacement for AC and Moody who has upside but the diamond is that 2026 1st round top 5 protected pick.
2) Demar for Jonas and Larry Nance plus a 2026 pick swap with Bucks from the Jrue Holliday deal. We get a 4 back in Nance who is under contract for next year, and Jonas’ expiring contract. Pelicans would get a nasty 3 headed monster with Demar/Zion/BI14 and allows CJ to facilitate and create plays for those guys. This also allows Pelicans to get an expiring contract as well.
3) Ayo and Torrey Craig for Davion Mitchell , both players are relatively young and Ayo still has value and a modest contract. Mitchell hasn’t really grown into a player and gives the Bulls a viable option next year for the starting PG. Kings get better off the bench and gives them another defender come playoff time with more experience in Craig who has a $2.8M player option. So he won’t hurt the team’s future payroll.
No body is playing the hypothetical GM game then proceeds to suggest trades that he just made up ……
I’m all for it suggested trades and stuff but cmon man