Bulls Turned Down Trade Offers for Alex Caruso at Ownership's Behest, Per Report

The Chicago Bulls enter the offseason with a pivotal decision. Arturas Karnisovas is faced with a crossroads of maintaining continuity and hoping things improve or altering the organization's roster-building approach even if means taking a step back in the short term for long-term success.

The first indicators of their path will come via decisions regarding core players on expiring or nearly completed contracts. DeMar DeRozan needs a new deal this offseason and Alex Caruso’s contract will be up next summer. The latter would be an excellent one-year option for a team looking to compete.

According to Will Gottlieb of CHGO Sports , the Bulls have taken a clear direction, specifically with Caruso. Per Gottlieb's source, the Bulls rejected an in-season offer for Caruso that included a top-10 draft pick. The decision was influenced by pressure from owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who wanted the Bulls to compete for the postseason.

Caruso, a focal point of the Bulls' defense, isn't easily replaceable. Moving him would signal an organizational shift in strategy.

If the Bulls front office is tasked with putting out a competitive product in 2024-25, this offseason could feature multiple re-signings. DeRozan could get a hefty contract for his age, and Caruso could see an extension.

With and Without Alex Caruso

If the Bulls are to run it back again next season, they'll likely finish around the 41-41 mark. This would put them somewhere in the NBA Play-In Tournament based on historical standings. To win in the playoffs, teams have to play better than .500 basketball.

Owning a top-10 draft pick and their natural selection at No. 11 could've helped the Bulls eliminate a year of a potential rebuild. Players like Matas Buzelis , Donovan Clingan, and Kyle Filipowski are available, and landing two of them could represent a formidable boost to a core that already features Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.

Ownership Getting in the Way

Regardless of who's calling shots on the owner’s side (Jerry Reinsdorf or Michael Reinsdorf), both need to stay out of the basketball side of the business. They pay a front office to make such decisions, after all.

Reinsdorf’s other team, the Chicago White Sox, was on an upward trajectory in 2020 until Jerry started to make calls by installing Tony La Russa as manager and limiting spending on big-name free agents.

After the White Sox' contention window slammed shut, Reinsdorf promoted an internal option, Chris Getz, to general manager, citing it was the best scenario as the team looked to improve quickly. Currently, the White Sox own the worst record in baseball and are on pace for historic futility.

If the Bulls retain their current core players and eventually sell those assets low, or worse, let them walk in free agency, they could be on the same path to the bottom.

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