OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (50-28) are back home where they will play three of their last four games of the season, starting with a rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) on Tuesday.
Realistically speaking, Los Angeles looks to make this one a, at the very least, respectable matchup against the best team in the league.
Like any team that just two of its two best players, the Lakers are currently in scramble mode, being left to figure out how to survive the tail end of the regular season. In their most recent frustrating loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the purple and gold gave a glimpse of how they’re handling their current situation and that involves requiring a handful of their role players to step up.
In doing so, Los Angeles’ successfully stayed afloat on offense. Luke Kennard had himself a triple-double, Rui Hachimura was efficient from all over the field while Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton provided ample contributions across the board. All things considered, it was a commendable effort.
However, the team’s defense was putrid. And it’s likely that they’re not going to win any of their remaining games if that holds up.
While it’s fair to give the Lakers some grace in this tough time, what won’t is the NBA schedule that has them playing the OKC Thunder next. Yes, the same Thunder team that demolished them by 43 points only days ago.
What was supposed to be an opportunity for the Lakers to respond to their most embarrassing defeat of the season turned out to be the worst possible situation for them with two of their best players down while LeBron James is now listed as questionable.
But even if their big three were playing, the Lakers are considered heavy underdogs against the Thunder. That’s why it’s easy to say that this is pretty much a loss unless a miracle happens. The least the Lakers can do is attempt not to get blown out by 43 points or more again on their home floor.
For that to happen, they have to keep up with OKC from the get-go. The biggest reason why the Lakers lost against the Thunder was that they didn’t start strong. The Thunder are the type of opponent who will make you pay for your mistakes, and the fewer L.A. makes them in this rematch, the better.
Who knows? Maybe the Lakers pull off the impossible and defy all odds again like they’ve been doing all season. Let’s see if the purple and gold can pull off the most surprising victory of the season on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain), Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) are out.
LeBron James (left foot injury management) is questionable.
As for the Thunder, only Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring) are out.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 22: Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates scoring during the second half against the Washington Wizards at the United Center on November 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are coming off a frustrating loss to the Brooklyn Nets, but one that essentially will guarantee them a top 4 pick in this year’s Draft Lottery.
They now play a double-header at home against the Chicago Bulls.
That’s right, two games against the same team in the same place.
Here’s the preview.
Game Info
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Wizards: Justin Champagnie, Tristan Vukcevic, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore (Out)
Minutes for the youngsters — This is long the time of year where winning is secondary, and roster management and player development are primary. The Wizards have been on a historic losing run, with only a couple of wins in the stretch since the All-Star Break. Understandably, as they executed a number of trades that netted them injured players.
The Direction-Less Bulls — It’s almost comforting to play the Bulls, even twice in a row this week, as this is one of those teams that makes the Wizards not look too bad. The Bulls have been in that 30-40 win bracket for forever, and seem to never be able to properly rebuild or reposition. Let’s hope the Wizards soon start looking with a direction and a purpose after several years of a rebuild.
Draft Lottery — So the Wizards are 2 games back of the Nets. In the remaining 4 games the Wizards face Chicago (twice), Miami, and Cleveland. The Nets play Milwaukee (twice), Indiana, and Toronto. But that important loss to the Nets, means that the Nets also won the season series against the Wizards 3-1. Be it as it may, it is unlikely the Wizards will surpass the Nets in the standings.
Flashback: The Wizards beat the Bulls on a Beal game-winner (but not buzzer beater)
Just a few years back, Beal hit a rare game-winning shot (with about 8 seconds left in regulation) to give the Wizards the W against the Bulls. Since Beal did not do that too often I like to be reminded of it. Oh, and Kuzma was a Wizard not long ago too!
Luka Doncic dragged his hamstring through an entire half of basketball last Thursday against the Thunder, tugging at it repeatedly as if it was a loose thread on a championship dream, until he seriously injured it midway through the third quarter.
By the time Doncic limped off the floor, the Lakers weren’t just down their best player, their season was teetering on the brink.
After an MRI in Dallas the next day, Doncic was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that comes with a recovery timeline of four to six weeks.
Now he’s in Spain, and that should tell you everything you need to know about what Doncic is trying to do in order to return to the court as soon as possible to help the Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
Doncic looked like the best player on the planet in the month of March.
He looked every bit like the NBA’s Most Valuable Player through that stretch of the season, scoring 600 points and leading the Lakers to a 15-2 overall record. Without him on the floor, the Lakers are in trouble — as evidenced by their 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Easter Sunday.
That’s why Doncic is not rehabbing at home or at the Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo. You won’t see him sitting courtside in designer clothes for the final four games of the regular season.
Instead, he’s chasing the kind of regenerative treatments that are not available in the United States, and could be the difference between watching Doncic on the court in the NBA Playoffs and missing them entirely.
When a franchise cornerstone leaves the country for treatment on a hamstring injury, it raises the question: what does Spain or Europe have that the U.S. doesn’t?
Under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, players and their respective teams have autonomy over their treatment, as long as they’re not utilizing a banned substance. Therefore, by seeking treatment for his injury in Spain, Doncic isn’t breaking rules; he’s utilizing a medical tool box that is much bigger than what we have available in the U.S.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
Platelet-rich plasma therapy. Stem cells. Exosomes. Regenerative therapies that live in the gray space between innovation and regulation.
In the United States, those options are restricted, filtered through the slow churn of FDA approval.
In Europe — particularly in countries like Spain, Germany, and Switzerland — there’s more flexibility and potentially more reward.
And Doncic is not the first prominent athlete, NBA player, or even Lakers superstar to seek treatment for an injury outside of the U.S.
Kobe Bryant boarded a plane to Germany in 2011 chasing platelet-rich plasma therapy when his knee was failing him. It worked. Years later, he went back again, this time for his Achilles. Anything to gain an edge in his recovery timeline.
LeBron James did something similar in 2023, quietly consulting a specialist overseas when his foot injury threatened to end his season. He returned without surgery and pushed the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds his ankle after going down with an injury on March 20, 2021. AP
Different bodies. Different injuries. Same idea.
The difference now? The stakes are sharper.
Doncic isn’t an aging veteran trying to extend his window. He is the window. He is the engine, identity, and gravitational force of the Lakers.
Without him — and without Austin Reaves, who is sidelined with his own 4–6 week injury — the Lakers aren’t just short-handed. They’re in full-on survival mode.
Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick told reporters before the loss to the Mavericks that the goal of both players is to return. But the Lakers might need to win a first-round playoff series against Minnesota or Houston without them for that to happen.
“It’s our job to extend the season so both those guys can get back,” said Redick.
Luka Doncic and head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
ESPN reported on Monday that Doncic was in Spain to undergo what was described as an “injection procedure,” meant to accelerate healing and recovery.
According to Dr. Evan Jeffries, a certified physical therapist and co-host of the “The Hoops Rehab Show,” that injection and treatment plan likely is some combination of “stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, or more advanced regenerative techniques” that are not available in the U.S. the same way they are in Spain.
“Stem cells can be more manipulated to increase their potency in Spain. Same with PRP,” Jeffries told The California Post. “Theoretically, he [Luka Doncic] could cut his timeline in half.”
Jeffries also added that Doncic would likely also undergo high-power laser therapy (HPLT), red-light therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), SoftWave therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and cupping during his treatment in Spain, these are also available in the U.S.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
All of this is indicative of Doncic’s desire to return to the court as fast as possible in order to help his team chase their championship dreams. His treatments will take hours upon hours of daily work to attack his hamstring injury from every conceivable angle.
Doncic’s strategy for his treatment is certainly bold and aggressive. Hamstrings are notoriously fickle.
This is the fifth hamstring injury he’s dealt with in his career, after he was sidelined in February for four games for a hamstring injury as well. Soft-tissue injuries heal on their own time and come with a higher chance of reaggravation. They are also the protector of the ACL, increasing the risk of a knee injury when the hamstring is not fully healthy.
But if Doncic’s treatment in Spain works, and it cuts his timeline for recovery in half, then not only would he be able to help his team in the first-round of the playoffs, but also beyond should they be fortunate enough to advance.
But if it doesn’t work, the Lakers are likely looking at a first-round exit without him.
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Hurley rocking the same suit through the entire Men's NCAA Tournament isn't something new for the two-time national championship coach. He's been rather open about his superstitions over the years in March Madness. Remember the good luck dragon boxers? He's also thrown holy water along baselines for a sign of good luck.
Another superstition of Hurley's is wearing a holy beads bracelet that he has been wearing for every game that he has coached in, going back even as far as his days as a high school basketball coach in North Jersey. He almost didn't have the beads with him for the Illinois game, as his wife, Andrea Hurley, had to rush back to the team hotel to grab them.
"He got this bracelet years and years ago in church. They're holy beads from Jerusalem, so they said," Andrea Hurley told CBS Sports on Sunday during an interview. "I had to leave the arena last night, run in the rain, grab the beads ... and then I got a police escort."
Here's a look at Hurley coming off the court on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where he's talking about his jacket with UConn Sports Information Director Bobby Mullen, and even told Mullen to look at his jacket:
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 26 overall, Los Angeles Lakers
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to an appearance in the NCAA mens basketball national championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kansas's Darryn Peterson is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the mens collegiate national championship game that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.
Cade Cunningham was upgraded from "out" to "doubtful" before Detroit's Monday night game in Orlando, but he did not take the court. What that showed, however, is that he is close to a return from a collapsed lung, and the Pistons' All-Star could play before the end of the season.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said pregame he hopes that Cunningham, as well as injured big man Isaiah Stewart — also upgraded to doubtful but not playing in the game due to a calf strain — can play in at least one more game before the season ends, via Omari Sankofa, Detroit Free Press.
"There's no way to replicate what a game is other than playing the game… especially ramping up to the intensity of playoff basketball, it would be beneficial for the guys, and the group."
Cunningham has been out since March 17, when he collided with Wizards' rookie Tre Johnson diving for a loose ball. That led to Cunningham's collapsed lung, which was expected to keep him out through the end of the season. Detroit has gone an impressive 8-2 without Cunningham and, as a result, has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East.
Cunningham, however, will fall short of the 65 games needed to qualify for postseason awards. He very likely would have been in the top five in MVP voting and made First Team All-NBA. Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds a game this season.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Aday Mara is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Center's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Aday Mara 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 20 overall, San Antonio Spurs
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
After leading his team to the collegiate national championship game, Michigan center Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. Especially in short spurts, Mara would make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Duke's Cameron Boozer is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isnt a human highlight reel but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, UConn's Braylon Mullins is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Braylon Mullins 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 15 overall, Charlotte Hornets
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA mens basketball tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping earn a spot in the collegiate national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level.
NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , BYU's AJ Dybantsa is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
AJ Dybantsa 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 1 overall, Washington Wizards
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Wizards have the second-worst offense in the NBA and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances.
The Chicago Bulls are cleaning house in the front office.
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have been fired, team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf announced Monday, April 6.
"These decisions are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect both personally and professionally," Reinsdorf said in a statement posted on the Bulls' social media accounts. "We are grateful for their dedication and the work they've put in over the past six years. At the same time, we have not had the success our fans deserve, and it's my responsibility to go in a new direction."
The Chicago Bulls announced today that Artūras Karnišovas, Executive Vice President - Basketball Operations and Marc Eversley, General Manager have been relieved of their positions. pic.twitter.com/nFFK0U66ng
Karnisovas and Eversley were brought on at the beginning of the 2020-21 NBA season and posted a 224-254 record over six seasons. They took big swings early on, such as making a blockbuster trade for center Nikola Vucevic during that first year and signing DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball in the summer of 2021.
The Bulls looked like the team to beat in the East at times early that season and held a 38-21 record at the All-Star break until knee injuries to Ball derailed the team – and the core never really recovered together. Their lone playoff appearance under Karnisovas was a first-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021-22 campaign.
When the Bulls began to move off of their current core, they failed to recoup any significant draft capital for DeRozan, Caruso or Zach LaVine. Karnisovas sold at this year's trade deadline, shipping off several talented players, including Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosumnu, in what he called an attempt "to get out of the middle."
The Bulls currently sit in 12th place in the East with a 29-49 record, their fourth consecutive year without a playoff appearance. They have won just five of 29 games since Feb. 1.
"This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead," Reinsdorf said Monday. "I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand your frustration. I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships.
"We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud."
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 15: Guard Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Arena on November 15, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Grizzlies 108-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second straight day, a skeleton-crew version of the Cleveland Cavaliers is taking on a more skeleton crew version of the Memphis Grizzlies. Cleveland will be without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Max Strus. They will, however, have Sam Merrill, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
After six seasons in charge — and seemingly that many re-inventions of the roster — the Chicago Bulls have fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas as well as general manager Marc Eversley.
"Arturas and Marc have led with a deep commitment to the Chicago Bulls. These decisions are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect both personally and professionally," Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. "We are grateful for their dedication and the work they've put in over the past six years. At the same time, we have not had the success our fans deserve, and it's my responsibility to go in a new direction. This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead. I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand the frustration. I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud."
Former Bulls sharpshooter Kyle Korver, currently an assistant general manager with the Hawks, is one of the names league sources told NBC Sports is connected to the job. Other names that sources said were connected to the job early on include former Atlanta Hawks GM Landry Fields, current Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy (this may be more of a wish list play by the Bulls, it is highly unlikely Dunleavy leaves Golden State), current Minnesota GM Matt Lloyd (a Chicago native who worked for the Bulls for 13 years), and CAA agent Austin Brown (this would be following in the footsteps of the Lakers and Knicks, who hired former agents as GMs and had some success with them).
Whoever gets the title of next basketball head of operations can be aggressive this summer: The Bulls will have up to $65 million in cap space as well as a lottery pick. However, what they need more than anything is a direction, a clear plan — that is what has been lacking for the Bulls for years.
The Bulls have been stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity under Karnisovas, making the playoffs just once in the past six years but finishing with at least 39 wins each of the four seasons previous to this one, meaning their draft picks were late in the lottery. Karnisovas built a team with potential early on, one that started 38-21 in the 2021-22 season, led by Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball. However, a serious injury to Ball, who was the glue of that team, left them floundering. It's also a roster that aged quickly and was never the same again.
This season, the Bulls pivoted and started to semi-embrace tanking — as it stands today, the Bulls at 29-49 have the ninth-worst record and a better than 50% chance of drafting in that slot — but they have floor-raising young players on the roster in Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. Part of Karnisovas' challenge, and the challenge for whoever is the next GM, is that ownership is rumored not to want to fully tank but also not pay the luxury tax for anything less than a contender.
The Bulls will want to move fairly quickly to get a new head of basketball operations in place, as we are just more than a month away from the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
