Latest news with #ArturasKarnisovas
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NBA insider lashes out at Bulls ownership after another quiet offseason
The backlash is finally starting for the Chicago Bulls. In an environment where even Jusuf Nurkic was traded, Chicago is supposedly struggling to flip the reasonably priced expiring contract of former two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls have been the suckers for several of the league's recent deals, including trades of former two-time All-Defensive Team guard Alex Caruso and two-time All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine. Chicago under recently-extended team president Arturas Karnisovas also has been prone to selecting raw, developmental projects in the draft of late. For every Matas Buzelis that shows quick promise, it feels as if young players like Dalen Terry or Patrick Williams wind up becoming borderline busts. MORE NEWS:Bulls envision major role change for Matas Buzelis in Year 2 Fans are finally on to the Reinsdorf family's scheme when it comes to Bulls ownership: avoiding the luxury tax and avoiding building a quality roster while reaping the benefits of possessing a major market franchise. Now, an NBA expert has called out Chicago ownership following yet another lackluster summer of transactions. ESPN's Dave McMenamin (via @CHGO_Bulls) alluded to a similar situation, the Buss family's sale of L.A. to Mark Walter. For Jeanie Buss and Jerry Reinsdorf, owning a sports team became their primary revenue source. For Walter, it's part of a much broader portfolio. "Obviously I spend a lot of my day job covering the Lakers, and seeing them have their major franchise sale over the summer, for a valuation of $10 million, makes you think about the Reinsdorfs," McMenamin said. "They're one of the remaining family-run [NBA] businesses, where their main stream of revenue is from their teams. It's not like they have some outside private investment, or real estate, etc. etc." "And you just have to wonder, how long a business like that — like the Reinsdorfs' — family, mom-and-pop, can compete in today's NBA?" McMenamin said. "Now certainly, you could say they could make some better decisions... but just bigger-picture, I don't know if they will be the most competitive team if they have that ownership structure in place." MORE NEWS:NBA insider has theory on Josh Giddey, Bulls contract-talks
Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Bulls Take 18-Year-Old Noa Essengue at No. 12 for Central Division's Lone First-Round Pick
The Chicago Bulls took a chance on the long-term upside of 18-year-old French forward Noa Essengue to highlight an otherwise quiet opening round of the NBA draft for Central Division teams. Chicago was the only Central team that entered Wednesday with a first-round selection. The Bulls used the No. 12 pick on the 6-foot-9, 194-pound Essengue, who has played professionally in Germany the last two years. 'I think I can do pretty much everything, all the little details, like shooting, passing the ball, attacking the rim,' Essengue said. 'That's my biggest strength right now is the open-court game.' Essengue has been playing for Ratiopharm Ulm, but he left his team as it competed in the German league finals to be in New York for the draft. 'We talked a lot with my coaching staff, all the staff from Ulm,' Essengue said. '(I said) 'If I go to the green room, I'm leaving.' The coach said 'Yes, go to see your dream.' So yeah, the day I (found out) I'm in the green room, Coach said 'Just go there and live your dream and we're gonna finish the job.'' Essengue is the second-youngest player in this draft class and only three days older than No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, the former Duke star who went first overall to Dallas. His youth means that this pick might not pay immediate dividends for the Bulls, who have just one playoff appearance in the five seasons since Arturas Karnisovas was hired as executive vice president of basketball operations. Chicago went 39–43 for the second straight season and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference before getting knocked out of the play-in tournament by Miami for a third consecutive year. While Chicago was the only Central Division team scheduled to make a pick Wednesday, the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks all have second-round selections Thursday. The Pacers traded out of the first round last week when they sent the No. 23 overall selection to New Orleans. In that deal, the Pacers reacquired their own 2026 first-round pick that had been sent to Toronto in the trade that brought Pascal Siakam to Indiana. New Orleans had landed that pick in a trade that sent Brandon Ingram to Toronto. Chicago Bulls Needs: The Bulls were seeking frontcourt help, particularly at center, with veteran Nikola Vucevic entering the final season of a three-year, $60 million deal. Who they drafted: Essengue at No. 12 overall. NBA comparison for Essengue: His ball-handling skills and ability to finish and defend have drawn comparisons to Pascal Siakam and Nicolas Batum. But he will need to improve his shooting. Essengue turns 19 in December. Detroit Pistons Needs: The Pistons could use some size and outside shooting. They lacked frontcourt muscle when burly forward Isaiah Stewart missed much of the first-round playoff matchup with the New York Knicks. Detroit also needed to make more 3-pointers in the closely contested series. The three-time championship franchise finally has a star to build around in All-NBA third team guard Cade Cunningham. Now it needs time to determine if former first-round picks Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland can help Cunningham on the perimeter. Who they drafted: Detroit didn't have a first-round pick. The Pistons own the seventh pick in the second round (No. 37 overall). Milwaukee Bucks Needs: Damian Lillard's torn Achilles, Gary Trent Jr.'s unrestricted free agency, and Kevin Porter's potential free agency (he has a $2.5 million player option) creates plenty of backcourt questions. The Bucks also could use a young big man. Brook Lopez and Jericho Sims are unrestricted free agents, and Bobby Portis could join them if he doesn't pick up his $13.4 million option. Who they drafted: The Bucks didn't have a first-round pick. They pick 47th overall in the second round. Cleveland Cavaliers Needs: Cleveland doesn't have many roster holes, but it does have a need for a big body in the middle to add depth. The Cavaliers have Jarrett Allen and NBA defensive player of the year Evan Mobley, but not much else when it comes to someone with size and who can be physical in the paint. That need was apparent during their second-round playoff loss to Indiana. Who they drafted: The Cavs didn't have a first-round pick. They have two second-round selections: No. 49 and No. 58. Indiana Pacers Needs: With centers Myles Turner, Thomas Bryant, and Isaiah Jackson all potentially hitting free agency, Indiana's most glaring hole is frontcourt depth. Indiana would like to re-sign Turner, a deal that could send the Pacers into the first salary cap apron. Finding an experienced big man would be ideal. Even after losing Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles tendon, Indiana still has plenty of backcourt bodies. Who they drafted: Indiana didn't have a first-round pick. The Pacers have a second-round selection at No. 54 overall.
Associated Press
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bulls take 18-year-old Noa Essengue at No. 12 for Central Division's lone first-round pick
The Chicago Bulls took a chance on the long-term upside of 18-year-old French forward Noa Essengue to highlight an otherwise quiet opening round of the NBA draft for Central Division teams. Chicago was the only Central team that entered Wednesday with a first-round selection. The Bulls used the No. 12 pick on the 6-foot-9, 194-pound Essengue, who has played professionally in Germany the last two years. 'I think I can do pretty much everything, all the little details like shooting, passing the ball, attacking the rim,' Essengue said. 'That's my biggest strength right now, is the open-court game.' Essengue has been playing for Ratiopharm Ulm, but he left his team as it competed in the German league finals to be in New York for the draft. 'We talked a lot with my coaching staff, all the staff from Ulm,' Essengue said. '(I said), 'If I go to the green room, I'm leaving. The coach said, 'Yes, go to see your dream.' So yeah, the day I (found out) I'm in the green room, Coach said, 'Just go there and live your dream, and we're gonna finish the job.' ' Essengue is the second-youngest player in this draft class and only three days older than No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, the former Duke star who went first overall to Dallas. His youth means that this pick might not pay immediate dividends for the Bulls, who have just one playoff appearance in the five seasons since Arturas Karnisovas was hired as executive vice president of basketball operations. Chicago went 39-43 for the second straight season and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference before getting knocked out of the play-in tournament by Miami for a third consecutive year. While Chicago was the only Central Division team scheduled to make a pick Wednesday, the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks all have second-round selections Thursday. The Pacers traded out of the first round last week when they sent the No. 23 overall selection to New Orleans. In that deal, the Pacers reacquired their own 2026 first-round pick that had been sent to Toronto in the trade that brought Pascal Siakam to Indiana. New Orleans had landed that pick in a trade that sent Brandon Ingram to Toronto. Chicago Bulls Needs: The Bulls were seeking frontcourt help, particularly at center with veteran Nikola Vucevic entering the final season of a three-year, $60 million deal. Who they drafted: Essengue at No. 12 overall. NBA comparison for Essengue: His ball-handling skills and ability to finish and defend have drawn comparisons to Pascal Siakam and Nicolas Batum. But he will need to improve his shooting. Essengue turns 19 in December. Detroit Pistons Needs: The Pistons could use some size and outside shooting. They lacked frontcourt muscle when burly forward Isaiah Stewart missed much of the first-round playoff matchup with the New York Knicks. Detroit also needed to make more 3-pointers in the closely contested series. The three-time championship franchise finally has a star to build around in All-NBA third team guard Cade Cunningham. Now, it needs time to determine if former first-round picks Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland can help Cunningham on the perimeter. Who they drafted: Detroit didn't have a first-round pick. The Pistons own the seventh pick in the second round, No. 37 overall. Milwaukee Bucks Needs: Damian Lillard's torn Achilles, Gary Trent Jr.'s unrestricted free agency and Kevin Porter's potential free agency (he has a $2.5 million player option) creates plenty of backcourt questions. The Bucks also could use a young big man. Brook Lopez and Jericho Sims are unrestricted free agents, and Bobby Portis could join them if he doesn't pick up his $13.4 million option Who they drafted: The Bucks didn't have a first-round pick. They pick 47th overall in the second round. Cleveland Cavaliers Needs: Cleveland doesn't have many roster holes, but it does have a need for a big body in the middle to add depth. The Cavaliers have Jarrett Allen and NBA defensive player of the year Evan Mobley, but not much else when it comes to someone with size and who can be physical in the paint. That need was apparent during their second-round playoff loss to Indiana. Who they drafted: The Cavs didn't have a first-round pick. They have two second-round selections: No. 49 and No. 58. Indiana Pacers Needs: With centers Myles Turner, Thomas Bryant and Isaiah Jackson all potentially hitting free agency, Indiana's most glaring hole is frontcourt depth. Indiana would like to re-sign Turner, a deal that could send the Pacers into the first salary cap apron. Finding an experienced big man would be ideal. Even after losing Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles tendon, Indiana still has plenty of backcourt bodies. Who they drafted: Indiana didn't have a first-round pick. The Pacers have a second-round selection at No. 54 overall. ___ AP sports writers Larry Lage, Michael Marot, Joseph Reedy and Andrew Seligman contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Bulls Would Have Offered Anything In Exchange For Luka Doncic
Chicago Bulls Would Have Offered Anything In Exchange For Luka Doncic originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The effects of the Luka Doncic trade are still being felt today, months after the initial deal. To the shock of everyone at the time, they did not entertain a bidding war for their franchise player and only sent him to the Lakers after weeks of secret negotiations. What the Dallas Mavericks may not have realized back then was that at least one team (the Bulls) would have offered anything and everything to acquire No. 77. Advertisement "A source told the Sun-Times that Arturas Karnisovas and his front office would have offered anyone and everyone on the roster had they been notified by the Mavericks that Luka Doncic was available in February," reported Joe Cowley. The Chicago Bulls have been looking for a superstar for years now, and Luka Doncic would have been the perfect fit. As a young and exciting player with a burning desire to win, his arrival would mark a new era for the Bulls and a return to contention after years of mediocrity. Sadly, it seems like they missed their chance, and they might never get the opportunity again. Luka Doncic is a once-in-a-generation type of athlete, and he's the kind of player that teams wait years to build their team around. In just seven years in the NBA, Doncic is a 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, and 1x NBA scoring champion. For his career, the Slovenian guard is averaging 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 43.8% shooting. He was drafted third overall by the Hawks but was traded to the Mavericks on the same day. He spent six and a half seasons in Dallas, leading them to prosperity as a regular playoff contender. But even after a trip to the Finals in 2024, the Mavs turned on Doncic, having lost faith in his leadership and commitment to the game. Advertisement As relations deteriorated between Doncic and the Mavericks, most teams would have announced his availability to try and secure the best package possible. For GM Nico Harrison, however, he already had an ideal return in mind: 32-year-old Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick. After landing this summer's No. 1 overall pick, they can also expect to have Cooper Flagg in uniform next season, but he wasn't part of the initial trade. The return is shockingly light for a 26-year-old superstar in his prime, especially considering what the Bulls had and were willing to offer. They were willing to give up all their best assets to form a potential package including Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, four first-round picks, and three pick swaps. The deal would have brought depth to the roster and restored the Mavericks' draft capital. Meanwhile, the Bulls could have started fresh with a new leading face and an identity for the future. It's a win-win for both sides. Instead, Nico Harrison didn't even give other teams a chance to step in, and he might have hurt his own team's return in the process. Regardless, the Bulls must now continue their search for a franchise player elsewhere, and it could be a while before they finally land their guy. Related: Luka Doncic For Anthony Edwards Or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is A Fair Trade, Says Ex-NBA Player This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bulls Executive Under Fire for Message to Fans After Season-Ending Loss to Heat
After two decades of coping with the Bulls being run by some combination of decidedly unpopular executives Gar Forman and John Paxson, it is fair to say it takes quite a lot for Chicago fans to truly give up on a front office. But with Arturas Karnisovas having been in the head honcho's chair for five years, without much sign of imporvement, the fan base is just about out of patience. But on Thursday, after losing at home to the Heat in the East No. 9-10 play-in game, Karnisovas did, indeed, ask for patience, despite having put together a team that has made just one playoff appearance in five seasons. Advertisement The Bulls won just one game in that series. They raised hopes by finishing this year on a 15-5 run, but were out of gas in the play-in and will be home in April once again. Chicago Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Said Karnisovas: "I'm asking fans for patience because we're in first year of that transition. I thought that the way we finished the year shows some promise. It's hard to win games in this league, to finish 15-5 it's not a victory lap, but I think there are some positives. "I think we've gotta keep on building on this group by adding another player in the lottery, going into free agency and adding another piece. Obviously, going into this summer, that's when the players get better. So hopefully our young group will focus this summer on getting better and come back so we can make another jump next year." The patience angle did not play well, at all, among the team's fan, or among media around the team. As longtime NBA analyst Trey Kerby pointed out, the Kings removed GM Monte McNair this week for having produced much the same record as Karnisovas. SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell noted on Twitter/X, "Arturas Karnisovas every year when the Bulls have a good March after otherwise sucking (expletive) all season." Advertisement Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times added, "This AK presser was not as depressing as the trade deadline presser, but it was disheartening to hear there is no real plan to get out of mediocrity. This is a slow boat to nowhere…" And fans added their own frustration.
