Chicago Bulls’ exec VP Artūras Karnišovas takes first step in offseason changes – NBC Sports Chicago

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Artūras Karnišovas promised change this offseason after admitting in mid-April, following the Chicago Bulls’ second straight non-playoff season, that “this group hasn’t worked.”

And trading a player in Alex Caruso as crucial to the culture Karnišovas said he wanted to build in Chicago means Karnišovas is serious about making change.

The question is of course: what now? Do the Bulls view cashing in on their two-time All-Defensive team floor burn leader, who significantly improved his three-point shot for a potentially dynamic floor leader nine years younger, as the only move to keep the Bulls competitive?

Or will there be more moves and a more drastic facelift? League sources reiterated that the Bulls remain active on several trade fronts surrounding Zach LaVine, including with the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers. Does this step-back move make DeMar DeRozan more strongly consider unrestricted free agency?

As a standalone offseason trade, this move isn’t great at first glance. If other steps are taken, perhaps this can be viewed in a fuller context. This is Karnišovas’ first transaction involving players switching teams since August 2021.

At the very least, three things are clear: By adding Giddey, the Bulls aren’t completely sold on a Lonzo Ball comeback. Peter Patton, the infamous shooting coach who serves as the Bulls’ director of player development, has a major project on his hands with Giddey, a career 31 percent 3-point shooter who the Dallas Mavericks left largely unguarded in their second-round win over the Thunder.

And boy, are Bulls fans going to miss Caruso—and rightfully so.

Caruso returns to the franchise that gave him his first shot as an undrafted free agent with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League, then coached by current Thunder coach and reigning NBA Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault. He gets to play for a championship.

Giddey, who turns 22 in October, comes to Chicago to theoretically be on the same timeline as Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu in a backcourt for the future, depending on how the LaVine and Ball situations play out.

White played brilliantly last season and became a finalist for Most Improved Player. And while he played well on the ball, he can often be more lethal off the ball in catch-and-shoot situations. Although White showed significant improvement in floor organization, the Bulls have lacked a true floor general since Ball’s first injury.

Giddey can be that, and he has size and height too. He’s nowhere near Ball’s level as a defender or as a shooter, and this is where Patton and Giddey’s own work ethic will have to come into play. Remember: Ball completely revamped his shot to become an elite 3-point shooter.

At 6-foot-1, Giddey is a good rebounder and has strong court vision. His passing skills can be sublime. Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, widely regarded as one of the league’s best executives, drafted Giddey with the sixth overall pick in 2021 and continues to think highly of him. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s emergence and usage rate negated some of Giddey’s strengths.

But Giddey isn’t just an inconsistent three-point shooter; he can be reserved at times. And when you couple that with his inability to get to the line often with just 1.7 career attempts per game, he has room to grow.

Like Caruso, Giddey will also need an extension after the 2024/25 season. Because he makes $8.3 million, he is eligible to sign an extension on his rookie contract through opening night of next season or become a restricted free agent in 2025.

That the Bulls started the contract clock so quickly when they finally decided to part ways with Caruso, and that no picks were added to the deal by a franchise swimming in it, raises an eyebrow.

The Bulls turned down significant interest in Caruso at the last two trade deadlines, most notably from the Golden State Warriors, as they looked to make playoff runs. They failed.

Whether this transaction succeeded or failed may require greater context to fully assess. But it’s a start of change, even if it costs such a fan favorite and a player who should be appreciated in Chicago for what he gave.

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