Chicago Bulls Embrace Change with 7 Trades, Aim for Championship

Executive VP Artūras Karnišovas says 'the play-in is not our goal' as Bulls overhaul roster

Feb. 5, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The Chicago Bulls made seven trades in six days this week, sending away eight players including longtime franchise staples Coby White, Nikola Vučević and Ayo Dosunmu. In exchange, the Bulls amassed a heap of second-round picks and a rag-tag group of mostly young players. Karnišovas says the goal is no longer the play-in tournament, but a championship, as the Bulls look to the future.

Why it matters

This marks a sharp strategic shift for the Bulls, who previously scoffed at second-round picks but now see them as valuable 'currency' to build the team. The roster overhaul also signals the Bulls are ready to embrace a full rebuild after months of relative reticence to commit to a tank job.

The details

The Bulls acquired nine second-round picks this week, bringing their total to 14 over the next seven years. Karnišovas acknowledged the short-term roster is a 'mess' with seven guards and only one healthy center, but said he trusts coach Billy Donovan to make it work. The goal is for the Bulls to nosedive out of play-in contention to improve their lottery odds.

  • The trade deadline was on Thursday, February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m. CT.

The players

Artūras Karnišovas

The executive vice president of basketball operations for the Chicago Bulls, who orchestrated the team's seven trades this week.

Coby White

A longtime Bulls player who was traded away this week.

Nikola Vučević

Another longtime Bulls player who was traded away this week.

Ayo Dosunmu

A Bulls player who was traded away this week.

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who Karnišovas said he trusts to make the new-look roster work.

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What they’re saying

“The play-in is not our goal. A championship is.”

— Artūras Karnišovas, Executive VP of Basketball Operations (Chicago Tribune)

“I'm definitely worried about so many new players on the team and how little time we have for cohesion.”

— Artūras Karnišovas, Executive VP of Basketball Operations (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Bulls will need to continue making trades over the summer to maximize their salary flexibility, and they'll need to prove they can be successful in free agency, an area that has been a weakness for the franchise for decades.

The takeaway

Karnišovas and the Bulls are finally embracing a full rebuild, even if it comes a bit later than many expected. The team is now positioned to tank the rest of the season and improve its lottery odds, with the ultimate goal of building a championship contender through the draft, trades, and free agency.