A Disheartening Sign Of What Chicago’s Trade Deadline Will Look Like

Over the last four years, Chicago Bulls fans have felt like they’re living a parallel version of Groundhog Day. The team has finished 39-43, 39-43, and 40-42 in the last three seasons, and sits at 20-22 through the first 42 games of the 2025-26 campaign. Each of those years ended with a loss in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and they’re currently holding the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they’d make an NBA-record fourth consecutive appearance in the mini-tournament in a few months. In years past, front office leader Arturas Karnisovas has used the proximity to playoff contention as support to remain silent at the trade deadline, and this year may be headed for the same fate. Here’s where the Bulls stand, what has been rumored, and what history says will happen over the next three weeks.

Three Games Out Of The Playoff Field

As good as it may sound that Chicago is on the fringe of being in the top-six slots in the conference, this is the exact type of scenario that Karnisovas has used against the interests of the fans in past seasons. There’s a chance that the Bulls sneak into the postseason field over the next nine games before the cutoff, and that would almost guarantee that AK and his staff would not only remain stagnant but possibly sell off young assets or draft capital to bolster the lineup for a playoff run. If history is any indication, the Bulls will cruise into the NBA Play-In Tournament and lose before the final eight contenders are determined. Despite consistently pushing the message below throughout his tenure with Chicago, mediocrity is the one word many would use to describe the last five years.

Artūras Karnišovas speaks to Bulls fans after the trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/USl3q1XOdN

— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) February 6, 2025

Possibly His Last Trade Deadline

The good news for Chicago fans is that AK and the entire front office may have more heat under his seat than ever before. Failing to make constructive moves that result in either a playoff appearance or a lottery draft position might finally move the needle toward his firing—a finish around the .500 mark, and losing in the mini-tournament for a fourth year in a row, would have to mean cleaning house for the front office and coaching staff. Does Karnisovas get aggressive toward a full-steam rebuild to save his job?

Artūras Karnišovas on asking fans for patience:

"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… To finish 15-5 isn't a victory lap, but I think there are some positives." pic.twitter.com/M4a4Q4X8jU

— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) April 17, 2025

This message from last year’s end-of-year conference suggests that leadership might forego standings and continue to commit to the rebuilding process. This would be the best case for the Bulls. Ignore the short-term success, ship away any depreciating assets for value while it still exists, and take a slight hit for the final two months of the regular season. Tanking for a top-ten draft pick would be a significant win for Chicago.

Does AK and his crew buck the trend and embark on a rebuild, or will history repeat itself, and the Bulls remarkably repeat their result for the fourth time in as many years?