Bulls' Executive VP Arturas Karnisovas Sticking with Small Sample Sizes
For the third time in four seasons, Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas is approaching the trade deadline, convinced that his team's core can be salvaged with a few tweaks. Last April, just 20 games of the regular season were enough to bring back key contributors like Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball, and this time around it appears he may be relying on another short window - albeit not quite as small.
The Bulls are currently riding a four-game winning streak, but will Karnisovas prioritize that momentum over a longer stretch of performance? The team has posted a 14-8 record in their last 22 games, and with a 23-22 overall record, they're sitting comfortably at the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference.
It's worth noting, however, that Karnisovas' track record suggests he'll be sticking to his guns on this front. Over the past couple of seasons, he's repeatedly taken the same approach, prioritizing short-term stability over long-term growth.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan has been in close communication with Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, but claims they've not had a conversation about evaluating the team's performance over the next six games leading up to the trade deadline. The focus is on assessing their current roster, rather than making significant changes ahead of July's free agency period.
One area where there may be some flexibility, however, is with the team's pending free agents - Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Jevon Carter and Dalen Terry. The market for White has been particularly active, with several teams reportedly interested in acquiring him. Collins' injury history may limit his trade value, while Vucevic's current market silence could impact his options.
Ultimately, Karnisovas has made up his mind about the team's direction - but only time will tell if that approach is wise. With a July free agency period looming, and a number of key players on the line, one can't help but wonder what lessons have been learned from past attempts to shore up the roster.
For the third time in four seasons, Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas is approaching the trade deadline, convinced that his team's core can be salvaged with a few tweaks. Last April, just 20 games of the regular season were enough to bring back key contributors like Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball, and this time around it appears he may be relying on another short window - albeit not quite as small.
The Bulls are currently riding a four-game winning streak, but will Karnisovas prioritize that momentum over a longer stretch of performance? The team has posted a 14-8 record in their last 22 games, and with a 23-22 overall record, they're sitting comfortably at the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference.
It's worth noting, however, that Karnisovas' track record suggests he'll be sticking to his guns on this front. Over the past couple of seasons, he's repeatedly taken the same approach, prioritizing short-term stability over long-term growth.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan has been in close communication with Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, but claims they've not had a conversation about evaluating the team's performance over the next six games leading up to the trade deadline. The focus is on assessing their current roster, rather than making significant changes ahead of July's free agency period.
One area where there may be some flexibility, however, is with the team's pending free agents - Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Jevon Carter and Dalen Terry. The market for White has been particularly active, with several teams reportedly interested in acquiring him. Collins' injury history may limit his trade value, while Vucevic's current market silence could impact his options.
Ultimately, Karnisovas has made up his mind about the team's direction - but only time will tell if that approach is wise. With a July free agency period looming, and a number of key players on the line, one can't help but wonder what lessons have been learned from past attempts to shore up the roster.
I'm not sure why they keep relying on short-term fixes like this. They're basically throwing good money after bad. I mean, who needs a solid foundation when you can get some quick wins and hope nobody notices the underlying problems? 
It's like Karnisovas is stuck in some kind of trade deadline loop. Meanwhile, their actual roster isn't even getting any better...
What if they're just kicking the can down the road instead of making some real changes? 
I'm intrigued to see how this plays out, especially with free agency looming large. Coby White's market is heating up, so fingers crossed he gets a decent deal and doesn't end up being another one-and-done 
. And Karnisovas' track record isn't exactly inspiring. He's been criticized for not making enough moves to strengthen the team and yet he still thinks short-term stability is key.
.
. But, I gotta say, Karnisovas' track record doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Like, 20 games in the regular season was enough to bring back Okoro? That's pretty short-sighted if you ask me 
. And what happens when they can't keep that momentum going after the trade deadline? Will they just fold under pressure or be able to maintain their current level of performance? I'm still on the fence about this one, think they're playing with fire 
.
. But can they sustain that momentum for a bit longer? It feels like they're just patching up the team at this point, rather than making some real changes. I'm curious to see how Billy Donovan and Marc Eversley handle the free agency period in July 
. Maybe they'll make some bold moves and shake things up! 
. I'm thinking of trying out some new recipes with it too... maybe make some creamy pasta sauce or something. arturas karnisovas and the bulls trade deadline can wait, i'm more concerned about finding the perfect ratio of oats to milk for that oat milk cheese sauce
. It's like he's trying to solve a puzzle with a limited number of pieces 
.
.
. He's not afraid to take calculated risks and go against the grain 
. The team's actually been pretty decent lately, but he's still gonna make some crazy moves just 'cause... why? 
.
. They're currently on a four-game winning streak, but what happens when the momentum stops? Are they just gonna sit there and hope for the best? 
. The team's performance has been solid lately, but I'd rather see some more planning ahead of July's free agency period 
But at the same time, Collins' injury history kinda makes him a risk 
. Vucevic's just being quiet, but I'm sure he'll make a decision soon 
. Time will tell if this approach is wise, but for now, I'm keeping an eye on things 
. Like 4 times in 4 seasons, he's trying to fix this team with short-term fixes and it's just not working out. I mean, a 14-8 record in the last 22 games? That's not something to be proud of. And now he's gonna get caught up in the momentum of a 4-game winning streak... meanwhile, his own track record is saying "don't do it". It's like he's stuck on repeat 
... And what about Billy Donovan's take on things? He seems pretty calm about it, but is that just because he doesn't want to rock the boat or is there something more going on behind the scenes? 
. But can we really rely on that? Bulls have been inconsistent lately, and it's always like they're waiting for something big to happen 
. But if it flops again... 