While 16 teams compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Chicago Bulls have missed the playoffs for the third straight year.
The last time the Bulls won a playoff series was in 2015, when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Since then, the team has made the playoffs just twice.
CHANGES FROM LAST SEASON
The Bulls ended their season with a play-in loss to the Miami Heat. Last season? A play-in loss to the Heat. Two seasons ago? The same thing. Three straight years, same opponent, same result.
Still, this season gave fans a reason for hope.
Chicago didn’t regress despite getting younger in the offseason and at the trade deadline. Instead of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls were led by Josh Giddey and Coby White. First-round pick Matas Buzelis also flashed future franchise-cornerstone potential.
But what exactly is that future?
During his postseason press conference, Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas outlined four goals he had for the Bulls heading into the season:
- Define style of play, change shooting profile — Mission accomplished. The Bulls went from 28th in pace last season to second this year. Head coach Billy Donovan deserves credit for overhauling the team’s style in one offseason and getting buy-in from the roster. The shot profile improved, too. Chicago attempted 10 more 3-pointers per game compared to last season and ranked in the NBA’s top three in attempts.
- Retain the 2025 draft pick — The Bulls ensured this by trading LaVine at the deadline. The move lifted protections from the pick and secured it for the 2025 draft. Without the trade, Chicago would’ve owed the pick to the Spurs because it fell outside the top 10.
- Roster building (minimize transition time by targeting young players with experience) — The Bulls traded for Giddey, a 21-year-old with playoff experience, in the offseason. In the LaVine deal, they also acquired Zach Collins, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter— all experienced rotation players.
- Focus on internal development — Coby White averaged more than 20 points per game for the first time and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors. Buzelis’ role grew steadily. Giddey posted career highs in assists, rebounds, and 3-point percentage. Patrick Williams, however, remained Patrick Williams.
PROBLEM WITH KARNISOVAS’ GOALS
One goal was noticeably absent: winning.
Karnisovas didn’t emphasize winning, calling this season the first year of a “transition.” He also asked fans for patience. But patience has worn thin— Chicago has been in “transition” since 1998. The only thing that’s made the Bulls contenders since the Michael Jordan era has been landing high draft picks in the mid-2000s.
Repeated play-in losses force the Bulls to pick in the late lottery every year. The last time Chicago picked in the top five was in 2020, selecting Patrick Williams, which was a colossal miss. Before that, it was Derrick Rose in 2008. In the past 10 years without a playoff series win, the Bulls have had just three top-10 picks.
Karnisovas wants to minimize the rebuild timeline. But fast rebuilds typically require one of three things: high draft picks, trade assets or free-agent appeal. Chicago is a big market but rarely lands major free agents, unlike Los Angeles or Miami. Boston managed to pivot quickly by trading veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for top draft picks, which turned into Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The Bulls lack significant trade assets. White is likely the most valuable, but he’s entering the final year of his contract. Any team trading for White would only get a one-year rental unless they knew he would sign an extension. Trading for a star would require packaging several players and picks— a strategy that has backfired for teams like the Clippers and Suns.
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WILL THE BULLS EVER BE GOOD?
That’s the question many Bulls fans are asking.
Regardless of who’s in charge, the franchise consistently struggles. Big-name free agents don’t come. Trades rarely go in Chicago’s favor. And they never pick high enough in the draft to land a generational player.
The team recently fired director of player development Peter Patton, a move that didn’t sit well with players. It also derailed some of the momentum the Bulls had built at the end of the season.
Karnisovas is prioritizing financial flexibility ahead of 2026 free agency. That could be the team’s best hope at landing a star, other than winning the draft lottery with the 2% chance they have every year.
This season did feel different, with young players leading the team to a 15-5 finish in the last 20 games of the season. But Bulls fans have seen promising stretches before. The recent history of the Bulls organization makes it hard to believe this time will be any different.
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