Bulls coach Billy Donovan isn’t going to stop trying to squeeze victories out of a stone. He doesn’t know any other way.
The Bulls’ players aren’t going to stop trying to climb up the Eastern Conference standings. Veteran guard Kevin Huerter reiterated that last week, saying: ‘‘You’ve gotta stick to what we’re supposed to do, which is show up every day and try to win. That’s how it will always be as a player. All the other decisions are out of your hands.’’
No, the importance of the next couple of weeks for the Bulls falls on the front office and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, and all that’s at stake is his ability to turn around a narrative that this has been a failing regime.
First there’s the schedule, with seven of the Bulls’ next 10 games against possible playoff teams and two others against teams that have given them problems this season (the Pacers and Bucks). Then there’s the buildup of emotion for ‘‘Derrick Rose Night’’ on Saturday, when the Chicago native and 2011 NBA MVP will see his jersey raised to the rafters as a reminder of how much he meant to the city and the franchise.
Both are important to note, but they’re also diversions compared to what really matters, which is the business leading up to the trade deadline Feb. 5.
As the Sun-Times has reported, Karnisovas has been as active as he has been since flipping the roster in 2021. He is looking to deal several of his six pending free agents and trying to add pieces that will fit the makeup of the roster that will be left.
The Sun-Times confirmed a report that the Bulls have had ongoing talks with the Pelicans about players such as forward Zion Williamson and center Yves Missi. While the chatter around Williamson has quieted on the Pelicans’ end, there has been momentum around Missi. The question is, at what cost?
The Pelicans have been trying to get back the unprotected 2026 first-round draft pick they gift-wrapped to the Hawks in the draft-day trade last summer for forward Derik Queen and would love to deal guard Jordan Poole and his bad contract, too.
Yes, Missi has lost minutes from his rookie season, going from 26.8 per game last season to 18.6 now, but he’s still a solid rim runner with the potential to be an elite rim protector. In other words, the Pelicans are willing to trade him, but they’re not going to give him away.
So getting a deal done would be tricky, especially because the Bulls aren’t looking to give away draft assets in a trade.
The Pelicans would have to have a tank mentality and put together Williamson and Missi for a package of players on expiring contracts, such as center Nikola Vucevic, guard Coby White and forward Jalen Smith. And all indications now are that Williamson — headaches, injuries and all — is off the table.
Another trade partner for the Bulls to keep an eye on is the Timberwolves. They have star guard Anthony Edwards and his supporting cast of center Rudy Gobert and forwards Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid locked up for at least the next three seasons, but they have been shopping for a combo guard to play off Edwards, especially in the fourth quarter of games.
The Sun-Times reported last month that the teams talked about a deal for White, but the Timberwolves also have inquired about Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones, too.
Either way, Karnisovas has a complicated course to maneuver. And what happens in the next couple of weeks either will change his reputation as a failing executive or cement it.
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