If there was ever a week that perfectly encapsulated how the Chicago Bulls have been moving under the reign of Artūras Karnišovas, it’s this one. The Chicago Bulls continue to wander aimlessly in the wilderness of NBA mediocrity, making frustrating moves while the rest of the NBA, not bound by unwanted contracts and lack, make bold, calculated decisions that scream ambition and clarity.
Let’s talk Bulls, because frankly, they continue to be the most baffling team in the league.
Noa Essengue: Another Project
With several more polished, NBA-ready talents still on the board, the Bulls used their 2025 first-round pick on Noa Essengue, a raw international prospect with potential but nowhere near the immediate impact fans were hoping for. This wasn’t a swing-for-the-fences pick; it was a shrug-in-the-dark.
Essengue might turn into a solid player five years from now. But Bulls fans have been stuck in the “wait and see” cycle for too long. After missing the playoffs again and spinning their wheels in the Play-In abyss, Chicago needed to show urgency and direction. Instead, they opted for a project who may not contribute meaningfully until this front office is (inevitably) gone.
GM Mark Eversley tried to explain the reasoning for the draft pick:
AKME’s philosophy of not bottoming out will continue to have this franchise in purgatory. They’re going to be just competitive enough to fight for the play-in tournament – again.
As for Essengue if you want to see him really play I suggest you get ready to watch a lot of Windy City Bulls basketball.
Bulls deal Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro
As if the draft wasn’t confusing enough for some, the Bulls followed it up two days after the draft by trading Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro. Ball, who missed over 2 seasons with a a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee that no one ever came back from, played 35 games last season and averaged 7.6pts, 3.4rebs and 3.3assts on 36.6% shooting. The miracle of Ball returning to play should be celebrated and I wish the best for him but he was clearly not in the Bulls’ long-term plans. The Bulls did sign Ball to a 2 year, $20 million extension in February but did it with the interest of using that contract to trade him.
Isaac Okoro is a defensive wing who hasn’t developed a consistent offensive game in over four seasons. In his career, Okoro has averaged 8.1pts, 2.8rebs & 1.6assts on 46.7% shooting(35.1% shooting from 3). He is a defensive specialist who was left off of the playoff roster this past season despite the Cavs having the #1 seed in the East.
This move signals that Okoro could replace Patrick Williams as the #1 defensive wing on the team. It’s no secret the Bulls have been trying to either get players like PWill to light a fire under him or look to trade him. Despite Okoro’s defensive prowess, he doesn’t move the needle. He’s a nice rotational piece, not a cornerstone. The Bulls essentially traded a major question mark for a minor one, failing once again to address their most glaring need: a franchise-altering scorer.
Stuck in NBA Purgatory
The harsh truth Bulls fans are coming to terms with is this: there is no plan. The front office—led by Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley—keeps taking half-measures. They’re not bad enough to tank. They’re not good enough to contend. They’re not even exciting enough to root for with passion.
In the nearly 2 years since the Bulls have traded away DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, the Bulls have gotten exactly one draft pick in return for 3 starters. One… and it was their own draft pick they traded away several years ago. Another kicker? The Bulls had a chance to get a draft pick for Lonzo Ball at the trade deadline but Karnisovas balked at it. The Bulls had chances to move LaVine & DeMar before they did and because of AKME standing pat the Bulls ended up with less. Because of their decision to not tank, they couldn’t amass draft capital. One has to hope they’ll smarten up and deal C Nikola Vucevic while he still has value.
The Bulls are the NBA’s version of a shrug. And Bulls Nation is tired of shrugging.
Final Thoughts
- The Bulls resigned G Tre Jones to a 3 year, $24 million contract. Resigning Jones will probably spell the end of the road for Ayo Dosunmu. The Bulls appear to be focused on resigning Josh Giddey.
- Under the cover of darkness and secrecy the Bulls extended the contracts of VP Artūras Karnišovas and GM Marc Eversley. Couple that with the Bulls having already extended head coach Billy Donovan the Bulls have clearly said to their fans there’s no problem with the front office.
While the Bulls fiddle with Band-Aid moves, cryptic picks and re-upping with a front office that’s made befuddling moves, the organization continues to show why they’re one of the 4 or 5 most dysfunctional franchises in the league.
Chicago fans deserve better. They deserve clarity. They deserve a front office with a vision. Until that changes, expect more confusion in Chicago… and more championships elsewhere.
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