Bulls Aim to Leave NBA's 'Middle' With Busy Trade Deadline

Chicago Bulls VP Arturas Karnisovas says the team is "not satisfied" with being mediocre after a flurry of trades.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 6:55pm

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The Chicago Bulls were one of the most active teams at the NBA trade deadline, executing seven deals to bring in a new mix of young players and extra draft picks. Bulls VP Arturas Karnisovas said the franchise is "not satisfied with being in the middle" and wants to change that after four consecutive seasons of finishing with around 40 wins.

Why it matters

The Bulls' aggressive trade deadline moves represent a shift in tone from previous years, as the team looks to transition away from its previous era led by Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Karnisovas acknowledged the team is prioritizing youth, financial flexibility, and draft capital as it aims to build a championship contender rather than remain stuck in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The details

The Bulls deconstructed their roster in the days leading up to the deadline, trading away top scorer Coby White, leading rebounder Nikola Vucevic, key reserves Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter, and former draft picks Dalen Terry and Julian Philips. In exchange, the Bulls added a bevy of young guards - Jaden Ivey, Rob Dillingham, Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons - as well as Leonard Miller, Nick Richards, Guerschon Yabusele and nine second-round picks.

  • The Bulls were one of the most active teams before Thursday's trade deadline.

The players

Arturas Karnisovas

The vice president of the Chicago Bulls, who said the team is "not satisfied with being in the middle" and wants to change that after four consecutive seasons of finishing with around 40 wins.

Zach LaVine

A former star player for the Chicago Bulls who the team is looking to transition away from as part of its roster overhaul.

DeMar DeRozan

Another former star player for the Chicago Bulls who the team is looking to transition away from as part of its roster overhaul.

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What they’re saying

“Being in the middle is what we don't want to do. We've seen that for the past four years and we want to change that.”

— Arturas Karnisovas, Vice President, Chicago Bulls (abc7chicago.com)

“The play-in is not our goal. A championship is. We know where we are in standings, and we are not satisfied with being in the middle as an organization or for our fans. At the same time, we are committed to building the right way without skipping steps. This process takes time, but we've already made [ a ] meaningful shift in how we are approaching roster building and development.”

— Arturas Karnisovas, Vice President, Chicago Bulls (abc7chicago.com)

What’s next

The Bulls will look to integrate their new players and continue building towards a championship-contending roster in the offseason.

The takeaway

The Bulls' aggressive trade deadline moves signal a shift in the team's priorities, as they aim to transition away from their previous era of mediocrity and build a championship-caliber team through an influx of young talent and draft capital.