Chicago Bulls stand pat at the trade deadline, but Arturas Karnisovas hints at changes in the offseason

The Chicago Bulls are a team in need of a breath of fresh air. With less than 30 games remaining in the regular season, they had a chance at getting that at the trade deadline on Thursday. However, as 3 p.m. came and went, the Bulls froze without making any moves. The team's executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas explained they explored every available angle but ultimately decided the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

Sticking with the current core

Karnisovas said he was aware of the team's flaws and needs and tried to work the phones before the trade deadline to try and see what the market offered. But with no offer apparently sufficient or appealing enough, Karnisovas and the Bulls chose to stay put and stick with their current core.

"We tried to get into a lot of deals, but at the end of the day we didn't make any of them," Karnisovas said. "So I think after looking at the return and what we had to give up to improve the team, we thought it was prudent to stick to this group for the next 28 games."

Chicago currently has a 26-29 record, which is good for ninth in the Eastern Conference. Although a move could have given the Bulls a spark to catapult them higher in the standings, the asking prices seemed to be a bit too steep. It appears that the only choice was to stick with the current group and critically evaluate the team's future during the remainder of the season.

"We tried to improve our team, but at what cost? That price was not okay with us, so I think the next stage for us now that we've passed the trade deadline is to evaluate this group the next 28 games," Karnisovas said. "Mediocrity and average is not OK with us. But the next step is what's going to happen for the rest of the season and then how we can address—during the draft and free agency—our shortcomings."

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— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 9, 2023

The East is wide open

Recent and significant changes in the East may have also played a role in the Bulls' decision to stand pat. One team in particular—Brooklyn—decided to strip its star studded crew down and rebuild with the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Johnson, and Mikal Bridges. While still formidable, the new-look Nets are a far cry from their recent core that featured All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

"I still have confidence in this group. There's some parity in the East. I think the trade deadline kind of shifted some quality more toward the West, so there's a chance obviously to compete in the Eastern Conference."