It’s a phone call that needs to be made.
As a matter of fact, it should have been made days ago.
If not, shame on Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas.
With NBA fall camps set to tip-off this week, news broke that Houston point guard – and team heartbeat – Fred VanVleet suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, basically putting his 2025-26 season on ice.
A gut-punch for many organizations, but for the win-now Rockets a staggering blow to the temple that requires an 8-count.
That’s where Karnisovas and the Bulls come in.
Sure, Houston can hope that Amen Thompson can help out in the play-making department or that second-year guard Reed Sheppard can be more than just a Summer League sensation, but hope is not a plan for a title contender. Especially one that went out and took the big swing in landing Kevin Durant for the likes of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and a handful of draft picks.
Hope is the plan for the mediocre and floundering.
Right where Karnisovas resides.
Because of Houston’s payroll and the dried up free-agent market a trade is the only real solution, and the Bulls just happened to have a player that fits the VanVleet role perfectly, and maybe even better. Enter Coby White.
White is in the final year of his current contract, informed the team several times that he would not be taking an extension until he hits free agency next summer, and is part of a crowded guard room.
The Bulls extended Josh Giddey for four years, $100-million several weeks ago, re-signed Tre Jones, still have Ayo Dosunmu, and aren’t sure what Dalen Terry is exactly. Factor in Kevin Huerter in the final year of his contract, and plenty of guards to go around.
A White for Sheppard and disgruntled forward Tari Eason is a win-win for both teams.
Sheppard, fresh off 23 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game in Summer League, had a hard time finding minutes in his rookie season, and fits the Bulls timeline perfectly. Eason is a talented forward who flashes when given consistent minutes.
The Bulls have White, Nikola Vucevic, Huerter, Zach Collins, Dosunmu and Jevon Carter all coming off the books next season and currently only have $77 million in guaranteed contracts for the 2026-27 campaign. Meanwhile, Houston is hard-capped in the first apron, has Durant in an expiring contract, while VanVleet has a $25-million player option in 2026-27.
They are in desperate times to get something of impact done now.
One of several storylines as the Bulls enter training camp, but really the only storyline that Karnisovas should be focusing on.
OTHER STORYLINES TO WATCH
Matas, Matas, Matas – Second-year forward Matas Buzelis was the talk of the offseason, adding muscle to his hustle and prepared to take a huge jump in Year 2.
The Bulls better hope he does because the front office has shown an inability to land a superstar talent, and is praying that it will come from their own backyard in Buzelis. If his Summer League and open-gym runs are any indication of where he is in that process, Karnisovas can sleep well at night.
Giddey up – Now that Giddey has his security it’s time for him to make improvements in securing the opposing team on the defensive end. If Giddey can be the offensive player that he was post-All-Star Break, and adds an improved defensive element to his game, look out.
The Vooch’s last ride – No Bulls player has been as unfairly criticized as Vucevic, and with an expiring contract, fresh off a season in which he shot 40% from three-point range, he could be the ultimate trade chip by the February deadline.
He needs to arrive in camp picking up right where he left off, however.
