Chicago Bulls Vice President Arturas Karnisovas has recently faced a harsh brand of criticism.
Diehard Bulls fans and Chicago sports media talking heads have come looking for their pound of flesh since Karnisovas’ press conference.
But how did feelings change regarding Karnisovas? After all, when Karnisovas was hired, he brought with him a wealth of NBA experience.
To quote Brad Pitt from the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith, “In the end, you start thinking about the beginning.”
Karnisovas was a well-established executive who was instrumental in assembling the Denver Nuggets’ core talent. During his tenure there, the Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
Many praised his initial moves when he was hired.
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Aside from his front office duties, he was also successful as a scout for the Rockets and then again with the 2014 USA basketball team that won gold.
Aggressive Front Office Moves
When Arturas Karnisovas started reshaping the Bulls, the franchise wasn’t just mired in mediocrity. They were a laughingstock.
Not only were the Bulls limited in young talent, but they also faced the tough task of drawing quality free agents. The organization’s reputation wasn’t helped by the fact that they nearly killed Luol Deng, a fan favorite.
A complete overhaul of the players and coaching staff was needed.
So, with a keen eye for talent and a strategic vision, Karnisovas began building out his vision. He signed Marc Eversley who was known for establishing good communication and rapport with players and those he worked with.
The Bulls also brought in knowledgeable executives in Pat Connelly and JJ Polk to the team’s operations department.
And of course, they hired a coach well respected coach to spearhead the turn around in Billy Donovan.
But the reshaped front office and coaching staff was just the start.
A Reshaped Roster
Karsinovas knew that he had to be aggressive in trades (more on that later) and free agency. And initially, he was successful.
Karnisovas used Eversley’s relationship with DeMar DeRozan and the team’s cap space to broker a deal. They stole an asset away from the Lakers in Alex Caruso. And they rightfully identified Lonzo Ball as a young player who could change their offensive identity.
They also drafted second-round pick Ayo Dosunmu (a first-round talent) to serve as Ball’s backup.
These moves helped establish the Bulls once again as a team to be taken seriously.
However, injuries to both Lonzo Ball and Patrick Williams derailed the foundation the Bulls were building.
Aggressive Trades
To help lay the groundwork for the Bulls’ initial plan, the team sent Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr., along with two future firsts, to the Magic for Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu.
What seemed like a splashy move was also a basis for jumping into the playoffs. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see the front office had a plan brewing.
Despite injuries, Markannen averaged 17.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 47.2% from the field and 37.4% from distance.
The Nikola Vucevic trade relegated Markkanen to the bench under the guise of defensive concerns. However, the Bulls roster had even more defensive issues because they traded Wendell Carter Jr. and Daniel Gafford at the deadline.
Billy Donovan has routinely said the front office doesn’t meddle in players’ minutes. Donovan likely used his influence to move Markkanen.
Billy also had autonomy in benching Coby White for Tomas Satoransky and has acquired considerable power in the organization.
A Secret Extension
Billy Donovan signed an extension in 2022 that was shrouded in secrecy. Reports stated he received an extension before the start of the season, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
Donovan succeeded in helping to reshape the Bulls’ reputation. But with uncertainty regarding the extent of Ball’s injury and two years left on his deal, why the rush for an extension?
The Bulls didn’t position themselves into being a rebuilding team. They got rid of young, productive players and draft capital for Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan.
The idea of extending Donovan after the Bulls faded so quickly in the playoffs to a weakened Bucks team was perplexing.
Even within that second year of promise, there were criticisms about Billy’s rotations, X’s and O’s, and the inability to adjust to opposing coaches.
Given Donovan’s age and lack of postseason success, it’s fair to wonder who really pushed for re-signing him so early. According to the Chicago Tribune, Donovan cited good relationships as one of the things he appreciates with this organization.
Curiously enough, Donovan also felt the need to mention that he didn’t pursue the extension but had a great relationship with owner Jerry Krause.
Why was that leaked to the media when no one asked the question?
The Situation Gets Murkier
Even more curious than Donovan’s words is that it took Karnisovas almost two NBA seasons to publicly state the need for changes.
During that time, Donovan failed to create a cohesive offensive identity in Ball’s absence. He failed to develop the young talent on the roster and adequately define roles for veterans like Andre Drummond and Jevon Carter.
His benching of Zach LaVine also helped create a schism in the front office, which eventually made him harder to trade.
The Front Office Powerplay
For two years, Karnisovas has repeated the need for player development. In 2023, he hired Peter Patton. But heading into the 2024-25 season, the Bulls replaced Donovan’s staff with younger coaches with head coaching and player development experience.
The assistants were led by Wes Unseld Jr. and Daniel Craig.
The hiring of Daniel Craig, a frontrunner for the head coach position four years ago who was not affiliated with Donovan, raised questions. Did Donovan have a say in this decision, or was it a strategic move by the front office to keep him on his toes?
After all, hiring Craig would be akin to asking a woman you once considered marrying to babysit you and your wife’s children. There’s a high likelihood your wife wouldn’t want a potential replacement anywhere near her family.
The Perfect Setup
In theory, the Bulls gave Donovan what he desired.
Lonzo is back on the court. Josh Giddey has upgraded the facilitation of the offense. Jalen Smith has provided a defensive presence along with 3-point shooting. And the addition of Kevin Huerter gives the team a supposed sharp-shooter Donovan has never had in Chicago.
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But no basketball-minded individual believes these additions are upgrades. Donovan, a coach with playoff experience, knows you advance with star talent.
Donovan loves using guard-heavy lineups, but he also relies heavily on midrange players like Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, and DeRozan.
This current roster construction could be used against Donovan and catch the attention of owner Jerry Krause. After all, Donovan cited having a great relationship with Krause when addressing his extension.
And could the front office’s decision to stockpile guards be a subtle way of exposing Donovan’s inability to adapt and manage the roster effectively?
Hopeful Returns
Trading Zach LaVine to pair with DeRozan could further expose Donovan. If the Kings succeed, it would further undermine Donovan’s credibility and strengthen the case for a coaching change.
Markkanen’s rise elsewhere is a testament to the potential he showed in Chicago. Donovan’s inability to harness that talent reflects poorly on his coaching, giving Karnisovas even more ammunition for a change.
Karnisovas could be playing the long game. By regaining control of the Bulls’ draft future and strategically managing the roster, they are positioning the Bulls for a brighter future.
And that future likely doesn’t involve Billy Donovan.
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