Chicago: The Chicago Bulls have dismissed executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, bringing an end to their six-year leadership amid continued on-court struggles.
The decision was confirmed Monday, with team owner Michael Reinsdorf admitting the franchise needed a “new direction” after failing to deliver consistent success. Chicago sits 12th in the Eastern Conference at 29-49 and is set to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
“Decisions like these are never easy,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. “We respect both individuals, but we have not had the success our fans deserve. This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving forward.”
Karnisovas and Eversley took charge ahead of the 2020-21 season and compiled a 224-254 record. The Bulls recorded only one winning campaign under their tenure — the 2021-22 season — when they reached the playoffs but were eliminated in five games by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
The front office initially reshaped the roster with high-profile additions such as Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan, sparking optimism during the 2021-22 campaign. However, injuries — particularly to Ball — disrupted momentum and the team failed to build long-term continuity.
Subsequent roster changes, including moving on from All-Star guard Zach LaVine, did little to improve Chicago’s outlook. Despite a promising 5-0 start this season, the Bulls slid down the standings, enduring multiple losing streaks and going 6-27 over their last 33 games.
Ownership’s decision signals a reset heading into the offseason. Chicago will enter the summer with a lottery pick and significant salary-cap space, giving the franchise flexibility to rebuild around younger talent.
Head coach Billy Donovan, who has been in charge since 2020, is expected to hold discussions with management after the season, with the organization reportedly keen to retain him as part of the next phase.
The leadership shake-up marks one of the most significant structural changes in recent Bulls history as the franchise looks to return to playoff contention and rebuild fan confidence.
Source: ESPN
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