The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) exists to investigate crimes and enforce federal laws. The FBI doesn’t investigate NBA teams for malpractice, but maybe they should start with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls’ front office has made decisions that baffle fans, analysts, and even casual observers. Their recent trades suggest either incompetence or a blatant disregard for building a competitive team.
Time For The FBI To Investigate The Chicago Bulls
A Trade Deadline Disaster
Another blockbuster trade shook the NBA world on Sunday night. This time, it involved the Bulls, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs. The main pieces in the deal? De’Aaron Fox landed in San Antonio, while Zach LaVine was shipped to Sacramento for a reunion with DeMar DeRozan.
Here’s the full breakdown of the trade, per ESPN’s Shams Charania:
- Spurs receive: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin
- Kings receive: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 CHA, 2027 SAS, 2031 MIN), three second-round picks (2025 CHI, 2028 DEN, 2028 own back)
- Bulls receive: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, their own 2025 pick via SAS
The return for LaVine? Horrible.
Chicago gave up a player averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. In exchange, they got role players and a pick they already had rights to. The 2025 first-round pick was top-10 protected. If the Bulls finished in the bottom 10, they would’ve kept it anyway. Essentially, they removed protections from a pick they already controlled.
Artūras Karnišovas, the Bulls’ executive vice president, continues to showcase poor negotiation skills. He turned an All-Star-caliber player into minimal assets. Bulls fans deserved better.
A Legacy of Poor Decisions
This isn’t the first time Karnišovas has mismanaged the roster. Earlier, he traded Alex Caruso—one of the league’s best defenders—to Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey. He also sent DeRozan to Sacramento for Chris Duarte and two second-round picks.
These trades scream poor asset management. The Bulls held onto their core for years, only to dismantle it without maximizing returns.
Chicago’s 2021-22 team won 46 games before Lonzo Ball suffered a career-altering injury. That team finally ended five straight losing seasons and secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2017. Yet, the front office failed to capitalize on their momentum.
Now, the only players left from that core (that were acquired via trade) are Lonzo and Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic, a trade target for contenders, might fetch one or two first-round picks at best. Lonzo, on the other hand, carries a $21.39 million cap hit and with the constraints of the CBA, will likely be bought out or let go in free agency.
This means Chicago could enter a rebuild with zero additional first-round picks from trading away LaVine, DeRozan, and Caruso. That’s an inexcusable failure in a league where draft picks are currency.
Uninspiring Acquisitions
The Bulls’ return in these trades does not inspire confidence.
- Zach Collins has struggled to stay healthy and contribute meaningfully.
- Chris Duarte was waived Just hours ago.
- Tre Jones is a solid backup but not a starting-caliber point guard for a playoff team.
- Kevin Huerter, normally a good shooter, has regressed to 30% from three on 4.8 attempts per game this season.
Giddey is only 22, but his future with the Bulls is uncertain. The team and Giddey failed to sign a contract extension and will enter restricted free agency this offseason. Reports suggest he wants $30 million per year, but his performance in Chicago has been inconsistent. The Bulls seem interested in keeping him, but they lost Caruso—a two-time All-Defensive selection—to acquire him. That gamble has to pay off.
A Franchise Stuck in Neutral
The Chicago Bulls play in the third-largest market in the NBA. They won six championships in the 1990s and still have a massive fanbase. Yet, they have paid the luxury tax only once in franchise history.
For years, the Bulls have prioritized profit over competitiveness. They spend just enough to reach the playoffs, with little concern for actually winning once they get there. The last decade has been filled with mediocrity, risk-averse decisions, and financial conservatism.
Bulls fans deserve a franchise that values winning. Instead, they get inertia and incompetence. At this point, maybe the FBI should step in and save the Bulls fans from their front office and ownership.
© Matt Marton-Imagn Images
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