Karnisovas, Bulls will 'look at everything' after elimination

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls finished 40-42 and in 10th place in the Eastern Conference this season, but vice president Arturas Karnisovas pointed to the team's 14-9 finish following the All-Star break as evidence the club is on the right path.

Speaking at his end-of-season press conference less than 24 hours after Chicago's 102-91 loss to the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, Karnisovas reiterated his confidence in the core of the team, saying he wants to bring back its key free agents and that the Bulls were not heading for a rebuild this offseason.

«That's been thrown around all this season,» Karnisovas said. «Blow up, rebuild. It's not on our minds.

»We changed our minds in the 2021 season to focus on winning, and try to build a sustainable program here — I think that's where we're focused right now. How we can help this group and how we can improve from this year."

While Karnisovas emphasized that a .500 team was «not good enough» and that he would explore all options to improve the team during the offseason, he also expressed interest in bringing back his entire roster.

Coby White is on the last year of his rookie deal and can become a restricted free agent during the summer, but Karnisovas said he «absolutely» wants to re-sign him this season.

Nikola Vucevic will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Karnisovas pointed to his availability for all 82 games when he called him a huge part of the team that he also hopes to bring back.

Vucevic also expressed his interest in returning to Chicago next season, saying that while he will test the market, he has enjoyed his 2 1/2 seasons with the Bulls.

«The Bulls will have priority,» Vucevic said Saturday. «I'd like to stay here. But that's on the front office