Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas had a lot to say during his media session yesterday, but instead of answers, he left us with more questions. With the Bulls finishing another disappointing season – and losing to the Heat in the play-in for the third year in a row – Karnisovas doubled down on his vision for the team. But his plan raises more questions than answers.
Karnisovas Stands Firm: “I’m in Chicago”
There were rumors that Karnisovas was going to leave Chicago and go back to Denver, where he used to work with the Nuggets. Those rumors were quickly squashed when Karnisovas said he’s not going anywhere.
“No, I’m in Chicago; I’m focused only on this roster,” Karnisovas said Thursday.
He also said ownership, Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf, are fully on board with his plan for the team. According to Karnisovas, the whole organization is “on the same page” from the front office to the coaching staff.
“We have a very good relationship with Jerry and Michael,” Karnisovas said. “We take pride, especially in this building, in everybody being aligned. They’ve always been very supportive of my decisions and thoughts about this direction.”
Well, unity is great and all, but the real test is whether that direction leads to wins or more of the same.
The Four-Point Plan That Leaves Fans Frustrated
Karnisovas outlined four major goals the Bulls aimed to achieve this past season:
- Changing the style of play
- Retaining the 2025 draft pick
- Building the roster by minimizing the timeline with young, experienced players
- Focusing on internal development
He said they met those goals, pointing to the 15-5 finish to the season. But here’s the thing: meeting arbitrary boxes doesn’t mean progress. The Bulls ended the season 39-43, same as last year, and didn’t make the playoffs again.
Ignoring the Elephant in the Room
One thing missing from Karnisovas’ comments? How the Bulls are going to get an elite player—a necessity if they want to compete at the top. Opponents like Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler have been eliminating the Bulls for years, exposing their lack of top talent.
When asked how he plans to get an elite player without tanking for a high draft pick, Karnisovas gave vague answers.
“Well, there’s a plan,” he said. “I think we’re always going to look at how to improve this roster by adding a player or a high-caliber player.”
But what does that mean? Karnisovas seems to be counting on the growth of young players like Coby White and Josh Giddey to get better. Unfortunately, hope isn’t a strategy—it’s wishful thinking.
A Path Without Patience
Karnisovas said the roster might look similar next year, with financial flexibility not arriving until the 2026 offseason. But he won’t take a step back to get a higher draft pick. That’s not the blueprint of every championship team over the last 3 decades.
“I do believe that the way we want to build this roster is basically by having players that have experience to kind of shrink the timeline,” Karnisovas said. “Billy [Donovan] talked about how important it was for this young group to focus on winning and what goes into winning instead of just rolling the ball out and telling them, ‘Go and develop.’”
Karnisovas asks for patience but shows no patience. He wants quick results without the growing pains of long term success.
Asking for Patience, Giving No Assurances
In conclusion, Karnisovas asked for fan understanding, citing the late season run as proof of progress.
“I’m asking fans for patience because we’re in the first year of that transition,” Karnisovas said. “I thought we finished the year strong. It’s hard to win games in this league and to finish 15-5, yeah, it’s not a victory lap, but I think there’s some good stuff.”
Unfortunately, good stuff isn’t enough. Fans want action, accountability and a plan not empty words.