The Chicago Bulls continue to repeat their past failures by not developing their young talent and failing to acquire talent.

The Chicago Bulls transformed from being one of the league’s most exciting rising teams to becoming one of its biggest laughing stocks in less than a quarter of the 2025-26 season. Starting strong with a 5-0 record, they now drop below .500. Some may blame injuries, coaching, or effort; however, the only person to blame is Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas. 

Believe it or not, this team is playing exactly as designed—a defensive identity built on a can-do attitude rather than personnel and analytics. The worst part is the lack of development for blue-chip prospects Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue. But this isn’t the first time the Bulls organization has fallen short in its development efforts. 

Over the past decade, Chicago has often failed young players, regardless of management. An example of the organization nearly ruining a career is Lauri Markkanen’s. Under former head coach Jim Boylen, Markkanen was forced to reinvent his playing style. Boylen’s ‘tough style’ also caused a locker room mutiny. From the Boylen era back to releasing Spencer Dinwiddie over RJ Hunter, the franchise’s ability to develop talent is horrendous.

 Another example is trading multi-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas on draft night. The reason was because of Thomas’s athleticism. Thomas went to play only eight seasons in the NBA and never averaged over 10.2 points per game. This obsession with athleticism still influences the Bulls’ front office almost two decades later. 

Patrick Williams, Julian Philips, Dalen Terry, and Noa Essengue were all drafted with athleticism in mind over true basketball skills. Meanwhile, Derik Queen, one of the least athletic prospects in the 2025 draft class, recently posted a 30-point triple-double. 

Story continues below.

More Sports News

.wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla),
.wp-block-group:where(.alignfull) > .wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla) {
width: calc(100vw – (var(–side-spacing) * 2)) !important;
}
.embla {
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
}
.embla__container {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: nowrap;
gap: 0 !important;
width: 75%;
}
.embla__slide {
margin-inline-end: var(–column-gap);
}
.embla__arrow,
.embla__arrow:active,
.embla__arrow:target,
.embla__arrow:hover,
.embla__arrow:focus-visible {
display: none;
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
transform: translateY(-50%);
width: 40px;
height: 40px;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
line-height: 0;
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75);
color: var(–color-primary);
border-radius: 100vw;

svg {
width: 24px;
}
}
.embla__prev {
left: 0;
}
.embla__next {
right: 0;
}
]]>

Yes, there has been turnover in front office personnel, but these same issues keep recurring. They keep focusing on projects they never finish. These projects are almost doomed from the start. Williams is on his second NBA contract, but still does not provide anything consistently. Terry looks the same today in his fourth season as he did in his rookie season. Essengue should hope another team acquires him so he can salvage his career before the Bulls inevitably force him to follow in Williams and Terry’s shoes.

There is no logical explanation for why an aging center in his final contractual year has a higher usage rate than Matas Buzelis, who is promoted as the future of Chicago Bulls basketball. 

The Chicago Bulls fail to develop anyone who steps foot in the Advocate Center. Buzzwords and false promises are what’s being fed to these young players. Fans have to stop holding on to silver linings of years past and view the Bulls in the light the rest of the league deems them as: a mediocre organization that does not value winning.