Twenty games. That was all the sample size Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas needed to see last April to make the decision to run the core roster back, plus a few tweaks, like adding Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball. He said as much on several occasions, pointing out the 15-5 finish to the 2024-25 regular season. Forget the fact that Miami took the Bulls to the woodshed in the play-in game, Karnisovas\u2019 mind was made up.<\/p>\n
So what will be the sample-size sword he falls on now as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches? Will it be the four straight wins entering Monday? Or maybe the 14-8 record in their last 22? How about Karnisovas simply judges the roster in totality, realizing they are a game over.500 at 23-22, sitting in a very familiar spot of the play-in pool, resting at the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference? That\u2019s where it gets tricky with Karnisovas.<\/p>\n
Commonsense has screamed pick a different lane for the last few seasons, but he has kept the gas pedal to the floor on the track of mediocrity. Have lessons been learned, however? That\u2019s what will be found out sooner than later.<\/p>\n
Billy Donovan meets with his front office on an almost daily basis, whether it\u2019s a casual phone call or a face-to-face, so he was asked if the next six games leading into the deadline could sway a direction one way or the other. \u201cIt seems like all the movement happens the day before, the day of so to speak, where there\u2019s so much activity,\u201d the Bulls coach said. \u201cThey haven\u2019t told me, \u2018Listen, these next (six) games or whatever it is up to the deadline, we\u2019re going to really take a hard look at the team.\u2019 I imagine they\u2019re evaluating that, but I talk to Arturas and (general manager) Marc (Eversley) when we see each other, if they\u2019re not on the road scouting, every day, but a lot of it is just about our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donovan did point out that the Bulls have potentially seven free agents this summer, which should influence roster decisions, but until he\u2019s told differently it\u2019s business as usual for him and his staff. \u201cWith the number of guys we have that are going to be free agents at the end of the season, I just think there\u2019s probably going to be conversations they have, but a lot of it is going to be does it make sense? You have to have (trade) partners to do that, right?\u201d Donovan continued. \u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019re all in communication and talking, and they\u2019ve always been very gracious to come to me and say, \u2018This is what we\u2019re talking about, this is what\u2019s going on.\u2019 But I haven\u2019t had any of that or anything that would indicate these next (six) games before the trade deadline are going to be really critical for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the pending free agents \u2013 Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Jevon Carter and the rookie contract of Dalen Terry \u2013 White has been the biggest focal point in the rumor mill since the start of the season. Collins (toe) has been injured off and on, while there has been growing momentum that the team would like to try and keep Huerter and Dosunmu once July free agency hits. The market has been quiet around Vucevic, so that could further limit options.<\/p>\n
White, however, remains the wildcard, especially because he\u2019s made it very apparent to the Bulls and possible trade suitors that he wants to shop the market come July. What the Bulls have on their side is time, knowing it only takes one team to change White\u2019s future, but if Karnisovas has already made up his mind on staying pat none of it really matters at this point.<\/p>\n
The Bulls’ situation is complex, with multiple factors influencing their decisions as the trade deadline approaches. Karnisovas’ reliance on sample sizes and his commitment to the current core will be tested in the coming weeks. The team’s performance in the next six games may or may not sway his decision, but one thing is certain – the Bulls’ future hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n
Q: What is the Bulls’ current record?
\nA: The Bulls are 23-22, sitting at the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.
\nQ: How many free agents do the Bulls have this summer?
\nA: The Bulls have potentially seven free agents this summer.
\nQ: Who is the biggest focal point in the rumor mill?
\nA: Coby White is the biggest focal point in the rumor mill since the start of the season.
\nQ: What is Karnisovas’ approach to the trade deadline?
\nA: Karnisovas’ approach is unclear, but he has a history of relying on sample sizes to make decisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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