Bulls exec Arturas Karnisovas all but slams door on total teardown

CHICAGO(AP) — Arturas Karnisovas just about slammed the door on a totalteardown for the Chicago Bulls following a disappointingseason.

The team’stop basketball executive didn’t completely rule out anything. Buthe made it clear a complete overhaul is unlikely.

“That’sbeen thrown around all this season,” he said Saturday. “Blow up,rebuild. It’s not on our minds.”

The Bullshave some big issues to address after finishing 10th in the EasternConference and missing the playoffs. They went 40-42 and won aplay-in game at Toronto before getting knocked out at Miami onFriday.

For a teamthat came in thinking it was poised to make a jump in the East anda run in the playoffs, the season was a big letdown.

The Bullswere hit by injuries, with point guard Lonzo Ball missing theseason because of a knee injury, and never really developed therhythm they anticipated. It didn’t help that Zach LaVine was slowedby a knee issue early on and that DeMar DeRozan dealt with a quadproblem over the second half.

The Bullsreally haven’t been whole since the first half of the 2021-22season, when they were among the top teams in the EasternConference. But even if they had all their key players, whether ateam with a “big three” of LaVine, DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic canovertake teams like Milwaukee, Boston and Philadelphia is anotherissue.

Karnisovastalked about building around the core and improving the team’s3-point shooting. But to do that could mean going into luxury-taxterritory.

Vucevic isdue to become an unrestricted free agent, and guard Coby White isset to be a restricted free agent. Throw in the uncertainty overBall after he missed the season because of his left knee injury,and the team’s top basketball executive has a big job ahead ofhim.

“Myresponsibility is to look at everything,” said Karnisovas,Chicago’s executive vice president of basketball operations. “Atthe end of the day, to be a .500 team is not good enough. It’s notgood enough for this organization. It’s not good enough for the fanbase. They deserve better. So I’m going to have to look ateverything — how I can help this group to do better. We have tomove forward. But I’ll be open to do anything.”

BIGDECISION

Vucevicsaid he’d like to remain in Chicago, though he plans to explore themarket. The two-time All-Star averaged 17.6 points and 11 reboundsin his second full season with the Bulls.

“The Bullswill have priority,” he said. “I would like to stay here. Butthat’s on the front office to decide and work with my agent on thecontract part.”

BALL’SFUTURE

Karnisovassaid he expects Ball to play again. He’s just not sure when.

“I haveconfidence that he’s going to come back. In terms of timeline, Idon’t have that timeline right now,” Karnisovas said.

Ball hasn’tplayed since Jan. 14, 2022. He had a cartilage transplant in March,his third operation on the knee in a little more than a year.

ONPOINT

Whether heremains with the Bulls or signs elsewhere, White said he would liketo be a starter. He made two starts this season.

“I think itdefinitely could be a conversation and figure things out fromthere,” White said.

NO SHOT

The Bullswere last in the NBA in 3-pointers made and attempted.

DEROZANDEAL?

With oneyear left on his three-year, $85 million contract, DeRozan could bein line for an extension.

“I’m neverworried about that,” he said. “Never mention it, never talk aboutit. I even hate hearing it at time. I let my job, everything I do,take care of itself.”