CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas, has expressed optimism about the team’s potential to make a playoff run, even if it results in a lower draft pick. He is particularly hopeful about the contributions from younger players like Ayo Dosunmu, Josh Giddey, and rookie Matas Buzelis, seeing their emergence as a positive sign for the franchise.

Karnisovas stated, “If in the next 30 games we’re gonna be out of the play-in and out of the playoffs, we’ll get a good pick. But at the same time, if we — with this young team — can make the play-in and the playoffs, it’s gonna be an accomplishment. If your young guys developing translates into wins, I think there’s growth.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the Bulls ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-30. Karnisovas has overseen the organization for five seasons, during which they have tasted playoff action just once, facing elimination in the play-in round for two consecutive years.

Several significant changes have galvanized the Bulls since the conclusion of last season. DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, was traded to Sacramento as part of a three-team sign-and-trade. Additionally, Alex Caruso was sent to Oklahoma City in exchange for Giddey. Recently, Karnisovas orchestrated another notable trade, sending two-time All-Star Zach LaVine to Sacramento, while the Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio. The Bulls also secured a two-year contract extension for guard Lonzo Ball.

Fans frustrated by expectations of unloading more players to amass draft picks may find Karnisovas’ reassurance somewhat unsettling. Nevertheless, the Bulls did reclaim the rights to their 2025 first-round pick from San Antonio in the LaVine deal, a pick that was initially given to the Spurs during the 2021 sign-and-trade for DeRozan, albeit with a top-10 protection clause.

Karnisovas emphasized the importance of balancing draft compensation and the presence of young players, explaining, “We obviously value draft compensation and young players and flexibility, I think in that order. But again, we have nine players that are between 20 and 25. You have to have the right mix of players in order to grow. You can’t just roll out young players and think that they’re just going to develop on their own. I think you need the right vets, experienced guys to be around.” He mentioned Nikola Vucevic and the value of keeping Lonzo Ball in such roles.

Looking ahead, Vucevic, who has a $60 million contract that expires next year, could come up in trade discussions during the offseason, alongside guard Coby White, who has one year left on his $40 million deal, as the Bulls find themselves with excess in the backcourt.

Karnisovas remarked on the team’s ongoing “transitional phase” and indicated that changes are inevitable, asserting, “There’s more to come.” He reiterated that the Bulls are “not OK with being in the middle.”