Chicago Bulls stand down at the trade deadline for the third year in a row

"We didn't see anything that would make us better. We would take a step back, which we didn't want."

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

After leaning into “continuity” at the trade deadline last season, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is now citing “competitiveness” as the reason the front office did not make any moves for the third straight trade deadline.

Despite the Chicago Bulls’ underwhelming record over the last two seasons and the glaring need for a roster shuffle to raise the team’s ceiling beyond just making either the Play-in Tournament or the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Karnisovas explained that his team did not see any opportunities worth taking action on.

Shakeup doesn’t guarantee success

The numbers clearly show that the Bulls’ high-priced “Big 3” of Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine don’t work well together. In a worthwhile sample size of two-and-a-half seasons, the trio are a staggering minus-2.8 points per 100 possessions when they simultaneously play.

Add to that the contract status of DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond—both of whom will enter unrestricted free agency this offseason—and the stars virtually aligned for the Bulls to make a trade or two. But unfortunately for Bulls fans, Karnisovas and his team opted not to pull the trigger on any significant moves.

“A shakeup doesn’t guarantee you success, right?” Karnisovas said via a Zoom call.

“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,” he added.

“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.”

This is the third-straight deadline the Bulls have not made a trade. pic.twitter.com/z6sWcvoTic

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 8, 2024

Would like the team to compete

Rather than tear the roster down and start building anew to give the once-proud franchise a legitimate shot at a ceiling higher than an early exit in the NBA Playoffs, the team’s chief decision-maker is impressed with how the team is competing nightly.

 Even with injuries that have put several core players on the sidelines for extended periods, the Bulls have pulled off some huge wins, including a 129-123 victory over the Western Conference’s best, the Minnesota Timberwolves, earlier in the week.

“Since I came here to Chicago, I wanted to have a competitive team, which I think we came up with a formula in 2021. We had somewhat of a success. We took, obviously, a step back with some injuries. But my objective doesn’t change. I would like to compete. I’d like to compete with the best teams. This particular team showed they can compete with the best, and that’s what I am excited about,” Karnisovas remarked.

After a horrible start that saw the Bulls go 5-14, Chicago has since compiled a 20-13 record in their last 33 games—most of which were done without LaVine in the lineup. Karnisovas hopes the Bulls’ fans would support this type of competitive spirit.

“This team is very competitive, in every game. And we have aspirations to compete for the playoffs.”

- Artūras Karnišovas

(Via @DarnellMayberry ) pic.twitter.com/dfYx4x7pAn

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 8, 2024

“I’m selling a competitive group that is competing right now for the playoffs,” he shared.

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