The Chicago Bulls spent a long stretch avoiding roster-shaking moves, going nearly three full years without completing a trade involving a player, but that conservative approach has eased over the past season and a half.
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, there is growing belief around the league that Chicago’s recent willingness to engage in deals could carry into the current season.
Cowley reports that league insiders have noticed a shift in how executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas conducts trade discussions.
Compared to previous years, Karnisovas is viewed as more open in conversations and more grounded when it comes to valuation, particularly since last season’s trade deadline.
That change has led rival front offices to believe the Bulls are genuinely willing to make moves this winter, especially with the team lingering below the .500 mark and a large portion of the roster set to reach free agency.
The sense of urgency has also increased internally.
Cowley notes that organizational leadership is applying more pressure on Karnisovas to establish a clearer direction, as recent seasons have been marked by hesitation and inaction.
With past passivity widely seen as a contributing factor to the team’s stagnation, the Bulls may be approaching a point where standing still is no longer acceptable.
ICYMI: Rival executives have gotten the sense that Arturas Karnisovas is open for business this winter, with the Bulls once again hovering just below .500 and more than half of their roster on expiring contracts. That + more from the Central. https://t.co/1skfL8BD3f
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 16, 2026
