Bulls VP Karnisovas: Vucevic trade 'worked out pretty well for us'
Chicago Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas still views the 2021 acquisition of center Nikola Vucevic as a success.
The Orlando Magic's selection of Jett Howard in Thursday's draft wrapped up the final outstanding piece from the deal that sent Vucevic to Chicago. Howard was selected at No. 11, one of two first-round picks sent by the Bulls to the Magic in the March 2021 trade - the other was used to take Michigan standout Franz Wagner in 2021.
Landing Vucevic, however, also cost Chicago big man Wendell Carter Jr. and veteran Otto Porter Jr., and though the bold move didn't bring the Bulls the success they hoped for, Karnisovas said Thursday he's pleased with the results.
"I think that transaction when we brought Vooch here showed everyone that we’re trying to win," he told reporters after the draft, courtesy of NBC Sports' K.C. Johnson. "I think once we brought Vooch, we brought in DeMar (DeRozan), we brought Alex Caruso, we brought 'Zo (Lonzo Ball).
"That started trying to improve our team and trying to be competitive. I thought that deal worked out pretty well for us."
Karnisova's retrospective assessment may conflict with that of Bulls fans. After adding Vucevic to the roster midway through the 2020-21 season, Chicago went 12-16 down the stretch and failed to make the postseason entirely with a 31-41 record. With the Montenegrin on board for a full year the following season, the Bulls fared much better with a 46-36 campaign but were eliminated in five games by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. This past season, Chicago again finished below .500 at 40-42 and fell to the Miami Heat in its second game of the play-in tournament.
In the Bulls' defense, they've been without Ball, a key starter, for much of Vucevic's tenure. The former UCLA guard hasn't played since January 2022 due to a persistent knee issue.
He underwent a cartilage transplant on his left knee in March, a third procedure on the same joint, but there remains no timeline for a return to basketball. Karnisovas admitted Thursday he could miss all of the upcoming season, too.
"Going into the offseason, I think our expectation is that he's not coming back next season and he's going to continue on his recovery," the Bulls executive said. "If he comes back, it would be great."