Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has the authority to guide the roster in any direction, including considering a potential rebuild, as reported by The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry in June 2023.
Despite this option, the Bulls chose to resist rebuilding at this year’s trade deadline, finishing the season as the No. 9 seed and missing the postseason for the third time in four years.
A report from CHGO’s Will Gottlieb highlights the consequences of the Bulls’ decision. “The Bulls fielded calls about trading Alex Caruso, but never made a deal,” Gottlieb wrote on June 17. “According to a source, they received offers from multiple teams, including one involving a top-10 pick in the 2024 Draft. The Golden State Warriors were among the interested parties.”
Ultimately, the Bulls declined these offers.
Caruso had career highs in points (10.1), blocks (1.0), and three-point shooting (40.8% on 4.7 attempts per game). However, his greatest asset is his hustle.
“Internally, the Bulls acknowledged that they would need to find a replacement for Caruso if they traded him,” Gottlieb wrote.
Caruso has been valued by the Bulls for some time. The team signed him to a three-year, $36.9 million contract after his championship season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then, he has earned two All-Defensive team selections and won the NBA Hustle Award this past season.
The Bulls’ success has not matched Caruso’s contributions. He led the Bulls in net efficiency differential in his first two seasons, per Cleaning The Glass, before giving up the top spot to breakout star Coby White this past season.
There have been annual concerns about overextending Caruso’s minutes, as he has averaged 59.6 appearances over his Bulls tenure, missing at least eight games each season. This past season, he set career highs in appearances with 71.
Caruso’s current contract, which he signed in 2021, is regarded as one of the NBA’s great value deals. He finished the season first in deflections, sixth in steals, and 15th in total charges taken. The Bulls were outscored by 7.2 points per 100 possessions when he was off the court. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $78.8 million extension starting on July 6.
Gottlieb notes a “mandate” from Bulls ownership to push for the playoffs, possibly explaining their hesitation to trade Caruso at the deadline. However, it remains unclear how far Karnisovas is willing to go, as he maintains that rebuilding isn’t on his radar.
The Bulls are also considering re-signing DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams, a move that would push them over the luxury tax threshold for the first time in over 20 years, further complicating their approach to spending.
