WASHINGTON – It’s an underlying theme in the Bulls locker room these days: Control what you can control.
Coach Billy Donovan talks about it as a mindset on the court, the players are living it off of it.
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas rarely shows a card, let alone his hand, so most of the information on what the Bulls are thinking comes from outside the organization. There’s definitely trade smoke hovering over the team, but an actual burning ember? Depends on the day.
The players definitely feel like any one of them can get called to the office at any time and told to get the cardboard boxes out and clean out the locker, especially after seeing DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso moved over the summer.
It’s a group, however, that doesn’t dwell on it.
Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball – the three leading trade suspects – have each indicated that numerous times this season.
Vucevic has been linked to several teams, including the Lakers before the D’Angelo Russell trade went down, but that’s calmed. LaVine was being looked at by the Nuggets – which the Sun-Times confirmed – but talks were described as “light momentum.” And Ball, who has an expiring contract and could be the most attractive asset for a contender, has to continue proving that his surgically repaired left knee can hold up.
But those aren’t the only Bulls players keeping the phone numbers for moving companies close by in the contacts.
“You’re never out of the fire,” guard Coby White said. “Everybody is tradeable. There’s maybe like five guys in the league that probably know, ‘Unless I ask to be traded, I’m not going to be traded.’ You’re never out of the fire.”
That includes White.
The guard already outplayed his contract last season, evident by finishing second in the NBA’s Most Improved Award, is making an attractive $12 million this season and $12.9 million next, and is part of a logjam at the guard spot.
Not only could the Bulls have LaVine for the next few seasons if he can’t be moved, but Ayo Dosunmu is signed through the 2025-26 season, and then there’s Josh Giddey. The 6-foot-8 point guard is a restricted free agent this summer, and all indications are the Bulls plan to re-sign him.
The only question will be at what price? The Sun-Times reported that Giddey initially wanted a Jalen Suggs-like contract at $30 million per year, but the Bulls can let the market set a price on him and have the last say if they want to match it. They undoubtedly will go that direction if the Giddey asking price doesn’t go down.
Still, with LaVine and Giddey, Karnisovas could be paying well over $70 million for his starting backcourt alone next season.
That’s why Dosunmu - $7 million this season and $7.5 million in 2025-26 – and White are each on the table as possible moves.
Both are young, hardworking, and improving. White especially continues growing his game, focusing more on the defensive side of the ball. Because both of their contracts are up at the same time, it may be a one or the other situation.
White is well aware of all the possibilities. He’s just not losing sleep over any of them.
“I don’t tend to worry about it because it’s completely out of everyone’s hands besides the front office,” he said. “Since I’ve been in the league, teams have totally changed. Me and Zach are the only ones still on the team (from my rookie year), so I’ve seen what it’s like to have your whole team shipped out. I’ve seen what it’s like to have a different head coach from when I started, a different front office, so it’s just business and I had to learn that. And it’s one of those lessons you better learn quickly.”
Control what you can control.
