Latest Bulls trade buzz should have fans excited regardless of strategy

The Chicago Bulls have seemingly trudged through the past few seasons without a real plan. The absurdity never ceases to amaze, especially when startling stats like the one below keep popping up.

It’s almost unbelievable… until it isn’t. The Bulls have started each of the past four seasons 18‑21. A shake-up is long overdue. The endless "will they, won’t they" speculation has grown exhausting, and hypotheticals have become so frequent that fans barely acknowledge them anymore.

Bulls reportedly ready to wheel and deal

Nonetheless, things might be about to change, at least according to Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley. He recently noted that VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas is looking to make a move. Cowley even titled his latest piece, "The feeling around the league is the Bulls are ready to make moves."

It's certainly a jarring development, one that Cowley himself couldn't have agreed more with. Cowley writes, "There is promising news surrounding the Bulls and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas. According to several league sources, Karnisovas has been more transparent in trade talks and more realistic in asking prices since last year’s trade deadline."

Chicago’s ridicule over the past few seasons largely stems from embracing mediocrity—staying complacent and holding onto players for far too long. That’s why Karnisovas’ seemingly newfound willingness to wheel and deal should be universally welcomed by Bulls fans, regardless of where they stand on Chicago’s long-term strategy.

2 Reasons the Bulls’ readiness to act matters

At the beginning of the season, it felt like Chicago could emerge as a dark-horse contender in a weakened Eastern Conference, with one or two moves potentially keeping the Bulls among the East’s top tier. That philosophy quickly unraveled, however, as Chicago endured multiple losing streaks and now sits ninth in the conference.

Still, the Bulls sit just 3.5 games out of fifth place, and a winning streak against the next three opponents (the Brooklyn Nets twice and the Los Angeles Clippers at home) isn’t out of the question. While Chicago’s current roster isn’t built to make much noise in the postseason, an upgrade in the interior could go a long way toward rounding out the team.

Yet, there’s a growing belief that if this roster, even with a minor upgrade, would only win a game or two in the playoffs, then why keep trotting it out at all? Sure, that’s reasonable. There’s little point in holding onto 35-year-old Nikola Vučević, or players on expiring deals like Kevin Huerter and Zach Collins, if Chicago is destined for a one-and-done postseason. Trade them now before they’re lost for nothing.

But back to the main point: both philosophies can be served if, and it’s a big if, Karnisovas is truly ready to make a move. That alone should give Bulls fans across the spectrum a reason for excitement. Even a single move ahead of the trade deadline would at least shed light on the organization’s long-term direction, rather than continuing to sit in complacency.