Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Best of the Bulls: What's the plan after a flurry of trades?

Episode Date: February 7, 2026

In the Best of the Bulls this week, Chicago Sports Network insider K.C. Johnson joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the organization's direction after it executed seven trades in less than a week leading up to the NBA trade deadline; Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes listened and reacted to Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas' most notable comments in his media session after the trade deadline passed; and Spiegel and Holmes took calls from frustrated Bulls fans.

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to an oncologist before your surgery. In the past, you've been seemingly hesitant to enact this much significant change in one instance to seemingly take a small step back in the short term for potential long-term game. What changed? I think the timing, the timing of stage that we're in as a team, you know, we started this last year. You know, and go into this season, a lot of decisions had to be made without, you know, with a lot of free agents. And that was a great opportunity for us during trade deadline to address and get a lot of draft capital and target very specific players. And, you know, take a look at them.

Mully and Hall, Chicago Sports Radio 670, the score. That, of course, is the voice of our tourists, Karnasovas, the president of basketball operations, and we are delighted to welcome in the man who really runs Chicago's basketball scene. He's Casey Johnson. He joins us on the Plummers 9-1-1 hotline. Plumbing Emergency, call 1833-3-Plum 911 Local 130 Plumers, get the job done right the first time. Casey, good morning to you, buddy. How are you holding up? I run your show with Dustin this week, man.

Oh, my God. That's the truth. It's so true. We've been telling us everything that's going on. But Casey, did you see seven trades happening? Did you see this coming? I mean, I got to tell you, it is just kind of insane that they've got this. There's been a change of philosophy.

They've got all these assets. second round picks, which they didn't need before. They've changed. And I don't know. Are these duplicate players watching that game last night? It was kind of weird. It was they said on the broadcast, it's like a pickup game at the Y, a bunch of guys just getting together.

Yeah, Joe Colley actually asked Anthony Simon's exactly that in the post-game locker. Did that feel like a pickup game? So, yeah, it was a pretty surreal night, pretty surreal week. No, I did not see seven trades. You know, you kind of, I've gotten into a very healthy relationship with social media, but I got into loopy Twitter mode this week where I was just like, we, we, let's go, you know, like, here comes another trade. I was fired off like goofy trade.

It was goofy tweets. It was like pretty wild. That's why I asked that question you guys played. I mean, I told you guys multiple times leading up to the deadline, expect them to be active, people were skeptical. I did expect activity. I did not expect this much activity. And I also did not expect them to trade both Iowa and Kobe.

That wouldn't surprise me for sure. Casey, seven trades in five days. You have done a terrific job in chronicling them all. I guess big picture-wise, when you take a step back, you want to know, is the plan more clear now than it was before the trade flurry began? and are the Bulls any closer to a championship? I mean, I don't know the answer to the latter part. As far as the former part, I mean, he detailed what he's doing.

He's tired of being in the middle, and so he is trying a different combination of players. That's a phrase he kept saying a lot, and he went for it all by, you know, trading so many players that you have so many new players coming in that you barely know. Like, I had to do a depth chart before, like, yesterday afternoon to, like, remind myself he's on the cheap. I literally did. Now, that said, I mean, there's, there is, you know, other parts to this. I mean, he got nine second round draft picks, so he has 14 total. He's got all his own first round draft picks, five tradable firsts.

You still have expiring contracts this summer. you have opportunity to audition some of the guys who are on expiring and see who fits and who doesn't. And then, you know, I've said this in other appearances with you guys or elsewhere. This is just one part of it. I mean, this is a lot of change this week, but this is not obviously the roster that's going to report to training camp next fall. They've got a bazillion guards. They are thin up front. So he's not done.

Like there's going to be more change this off season. this was just one part of it. That's why you can't really answer the second question until you see kind of everything that he's gone. I mean, I hate to say this. It's just when you're in this position, you really need to get lucky. And I don't know if that can be a plan,

but they need to have the lottery, the draft lottery go their way. They need something to happen, someone to develop, they need to fall into something. And I don't know how you go about arranging that when it's sort of just throwing your hands up and hoping the basketball God smile on you. Well, so I agree with the luck part for sure.

And what I would say to that is two things. I mean, another part where you need is you need modest to just continue taking a huge jump. I mean, that's obvious. But I would actually question, like, I mean, are they for sure going to be in the lottery? I mean, you never know. They have, now they are game. out and you certainly do expect them to take a step back, but I'm not like putting too much emphasis on one game last night, right? And obviously they couldn't guard anybody.

But like they did acquire talented players. Like with no time together, they had close to 30 assists. They had six players and doubles. Simons can get a bucket. Yabouseli probably isn't going to put up a double double every night. But like these are these are like, they're not great players, but they're like, talented NBA players. Sexton is a good player. So I question after watching last night, like, are they for sure going to drop in the lottery? And Billy is going to coach to win,

because that's what coaches do. And that's how he's wired. So maybe they'll take steps that I don't envision down the stretch to ensure them slide into the lottery. I don't know. But we'll have to see how this plays out for sure. I did not expect to be coming in here this week or ever to espouses the virtues of Gershon Yabaselli, but he had 15 and 11. And Simon's... High energy, man. He was high energy. And Simon scores 22, and Ivy looks like a guy that is reminiscent of the who came out

of Purdue. And Casey, as you said, there are pieces that you like individually. I don't know how they work together collectively, but what piece, what players do you think could be part of the long-term solution? or is this a 30-game audition to answer that question? No, I think it's definitely the latter, but I mean, I do, we all have, you know, feelings or educated guesses. I do feel like Ivy is a player that they went out and got as a restricted free agent

so they can kind of control how they resign him. So I would certainly pencil him in as a long-term fit. And then, I mean, just my guess, because both Simons and Sexton are like, you know, pretty talented but small. smaller guards. That they pick one of those two, depending on how they both play. That's, again, kind

of a educated guess. And then Dillenham will be here just because, well, not for sure, you never say never, but he's got money beyond this offseason. So I'd expect him to be around. Yavicelli, I mean, the fact that he amended his contract

for ditch the player option, people have read that as like a shot against the Bulls. It sounds like he has opportunities to go back overseas, which is where he's happiest. Right. So, but I don't expect him to be around. And then I'm kind of forgetting who else is coming to his team. Dillingham.

Dillingham. We haven't seen him yet. No, I said Dillingham. Oh, you did. I'm sorry. Yeah, he's got money beyond this offseason. So I'd expect him back for sure. Leonard Miller, I would not expect back.

I think that's it. I don't know. I've got to look at the depth chart. I'm curious. You know, he talked about. the core and he said giddy, Matas, we know that, he said

Akoro, which I wasn't sure and I'm still not sure. He said Noah Essenge. What? And Jalen Smith. So he rattled off names and he said that they're intentional about surrounding that core with certain places.

It was just to explain that, please. Well, he's saying that because both those guys have money beyond the office. Yeah. Okay. And he likes, I mean, he went out and traded Lonzo Ball for a cora. I mean, he likes what, you know, he offers. And then Jalen has been a very solid reserve on a value contract. And then as far as the Senge, like, he's clearly, you know,

on that front court of the future timeline for modest. But, I mean, in their mind, I mean, obviously 18 years old, you don't know where his career's going. And this was a very unfortunate redshirt season for him. So, but no, Asingay is definitely part of the future. So, Casey, they look ahead and, yeah, free agency, they'll have some cap space. And they're looking at the draft lottery. And yeah, the bottoming out makes sense because you have a chance at the draft.

But if you're outside of five, you might be on the outside looking in. These are calculated risks. These are gambles. I mean, is hope a plan? the thing about free agency is great, but are there other methods to get better than just relying on the free agent class that doesn't really look like it has as many stars or superstars in it

as most seasons? Yeah, I mean, you can sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet. That's something that I would not be surprised if they do because there's not going to be a lot of teams with CalfSface this summer. So they can strategically utilize that CalfS face, and you have to hope that this week, you know, that they had charted out their next steps for the offseason and they have multiple pathways to try if the first avenue does not strike gold, you know?

So as I keep saying, like, this week is just part of it. This is clearly not the roster that's going to be opening training camp next season. But, yeah, I actually had an executive from another team text me. He texted, he chose chaos. I mean, I think the whole league was just like having fun with how crazy it was. Seven trades. It's just insane. I've never seen anything like it.

Yeah. And, I mean, it changed the team, obviously, significantly. Could they bring anybody back? You know, David was saying he thinks the I-O trade was, would I. I want to come back? You could still sign them. I mean, I don't know if you did that, you know, if that's feasible. But I'm just curious.

I mean, the answer to Can they is yes. Yeah. The answer is, will that happen? I have no idea. What I will tell you is I have a pretty strong sense that Charlotte is going to resign Kobe. I don't have as much intel on the Iowa situation. But look, Minnesota, he's a great fit up there, and they gave up four seconds for him. And Dillingham, whom, you know, management paid a pretty significant price to move up in the draft to get.

Now, he never found his footing in terms of playing time on the court, but management still believed in Dillingham. So my sense, given what they gave up for him from a Minnesota perspective, is that I would be resigned to. But I don't have as much intel on that. I do have a pretty strong sense that Charlotte plans to resign Kobe White. Casey, we talked about this a little on the Chicago lead, and then I heard Billy Donovan address it. I think it was post-game, but he did talk about just the NBA and looking at it. Detroit and they turn things around quickly. He referenced the Boston Celtics

and his own work in Florida he said he's rebuilt before. And it sounded like a guy either talking himself into the idea that he's the right guy for this job. But I do wonder, is it viewed around the league, is Billy Donovan

the right guy for this job? Because it looks like it could be a big one. Well, he's the right guy for the next 32 games because what you heard from him was genuine and passionate. and competitive and real. I mean, I've been around Billy now a long time, and I feel like I have a pretty strong sense of,

and I can just tell you that in my conversations with him, yesterday, not even just in the press conference. You know, I talked to him casually at one point briefly, and he's just, like, focused on the task. I mean, he's like, okay, we got a lot to do, you know, and I need to get to know these players, and it's my job to figure out how to utilize, the best. He did say this up on the day. It's not in our casual conversation. He said,

you know, I told Anthony Simons, like, I'm going to meet with you tomorrow. I've barely spoken to you. I want to get to know you. I want to know where you like the ball, what actions you like. And I assume he's going to do that with all the new players. That's just who Billy is. He's a consistent communicator. He's a relationship person. He's a consistent demeanor. And he's competitive. So I can tell you that he is all in and committed to this, and you heard our tourist reference multiple times on his Zoom call, you know, even how that he's concerned about how all the cohesion with all these new faces come together.

But Billy and his staff are the right people to make that happen. So there's alignment there. Long term, I'm not going to go there. Billy didn't seem to want to go there. And I just tell you for the next thing. 30, 32 games, he's all in. What do you make of their draft status for next year? I know you're saying that they could, there's 30 games left.

I mean, who knows? If they can get over 500 or if they can get to, they can't get over 500, but they can, I'm talking about in the 30 games, that might be enough to get in. And I don't know that it, even if they're not in, I don't know if they can win the lottery. Do they have any other picks? Do they have any other, isn't there another pick somewhere?

They should be cheering for Portland if you're a bulls fan because if Portland makes the playoffs, the Bulls get their first round pick. And, you know, all you're looking for is more bites at the apple, whether they're, you know, in the draft lottery or, you know, in the first round to add a player or first round draft capital to trade. So, yeah, Portland, you should be cheering for Portland.

And they added, they were mild buyers at the deadline. So we'll see, I mean, they're obviously in the wrong conference, but we'll see where their season goes. But yeah, they potentially have the opportunity to have two first-round picks this year to draft. And that New Orleans pick they got is like the first pick of the second. I mean, I'm just saying they could add players that could be able to play, make the team, et cetera, especially if you're, you know,

this short of front court. Or use those picks. with the acquiring contract to trade. Yeah, or trade up. There's a lot of options. And so, yeah, I can just tell you, like, we're having fun with this, seven trades. You know, there's more trades and stuff coming this summer. I can tell you that right now.

So, well, we'll be talking about this again in the off season, for sure. I liked your reference to during the game. I think you tweeted about now Matas after that nasty dunk realizes he is the third best dunker on the team with two slam dunk champions. as teammates. Well, a post script to that. Modis did not agree with that. We just gave him, you know, what about that?

He's the third best dunker on the team in the pre-game locker. Modest has an edge to him, and he jokingly did not like that. And then another post script to that, I joked, I told Simon's that later post game. We didn't get a chance to talk to Simon and tell postgame. And I shared that with him. And he goes, no, man, that's not me anymore. That's modest, man. He already stepped down.

But I did not talk to McClung, but I guarantee you if I talk to McClung, he would say he was the best dunker. Oh, yeah. He's a cocky dunker and a very good dunker. Great job, Casey. Thanks, Casey. All week long. Thank you very much.

All right. I appreciate you guys. Take care. Yeah. It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair. Let me tell you, game day is serious business at my house. If I'm grilling, chilling, chilling, and watching hoops, my outdoor setup, better be ready to play.

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Right, and the best part? They accept Discover. Except Discover? In a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer. Oh, yeah, huh? Discover's accepted where I like to show. Come on, baby, get with the times.

Right, so we shouldn't get the parachute pants? These are making a comeback. I think. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nilsen Report. Have you or a family member been diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer that can be removed by surgery? Consider talking to an oncologist about your treatment options. Why?

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Because at blinds.com, the only thing we treat better than Windows is you. Visit blinds.com now for up to 45% offsite wide, plus a professional measure at no cost. Rules and restrictions apply. In Odyssey Sports Station. Spiegel and Holmes. Boris Grant. Do you remember being on the station in the 90s doing some sports radio? Of course.

That was the only show around. Yes. I remember. Yes. Absolutely. Were we hard on you? I would say it was tough love. Thank you guys for being the original ones here in Chicago.

Afternoons on the score. All right, we promised you Bull's coverage from the Advocate Center. Well, I guess technically they're in Toronto tonight. Where are they at? Yeah, Toronto. Tonight, they barely have enough players to kind of field a team. So you've got Mack McClung on a two-way deal. McClung is some tanking

eye candy right there. I know he can dunk. That's what everybody knows. Good thing they got him, though, because they needed more guards. Yeah. The hell is going on. I'll watch Mack and Yuki. That's another good cop show that they've got going on on that team. Coming up

after the game, Mac and Yuki, along with Sexton and Simon. Simon played by Rob Dillingham. Hell man. Seventy's rock and roll. acting star, Rob Dillingham. If you're telling me that Dillingham

isn't a 45-year-old guy with dirty blonde hair and a mustache, then I'm not interested. Yeah, and that he's had too much of this. He is tired, and he wants to go home, and now he's straddled with this high-stressful partner that's going to keep him from his pension. Simon just doesn't listen. It's exactly right.

You know what's crazy? I looked it up. You know how old Eddie Murphy was for Beverly Hills cop? It's like 23 or something, right? 23 years old. Yeah, yeah, outrageous. 23. Unbelievable.

Anyway, back to the Bulls. We split this up into two portions, okay? Because I know there was a couple of people like, we wanted to hear it live. No, you didn't. But we split it up in two portions. We are going to give you the Q&A session as cleanly as we could with it. And we're going to give you the opening statement.

Here is Arturis Karnas Chávez and his opening statement about the trade deadline in direction of the Bulls. When we approached trade deadline this year, we were focused on three things. First one is where we are and where we're going. The plan is not our goal. A championship is we know where we are in standings and we are not satisfied with being in the middle. As an organization or for our fans. At the same time, we are committed to building the right way without skipping steps. This process takes time, but we've already made meaningful shift in how we're approaching roster building and development.

This process takes time. It's my responsibility to make this better and to move their organization towards something sustainable at the highest level. Number two would be building around experience youth and new mix of players. We are adding experience youth alongside Josh, Matas, ICE, Noah, Jalen. We are intentional about surrounding these core pieces with players who have real NBA experience, along with upcoming draft picks. Pieces, we believe, can grow together over time. Evaluating long-term fits.

And the last, but not least, obviously, financial flexibility and draft capital, we've maintained sustained flexibility heading into the off-season. That gives us real options, whether that's free agency, trades, the draft, or continuing investment in development. Flexibility allows us to be patient, but also decisive when the right opportunity presents itself. I believe you cannot have too many draft picks in terms of how you can operate for the future. Billy and his staff have done an excellent job, keeping this group prepared and competitive. I trust them completely. We're aligned and the players are bought in.

Everything we are doing is tied to building something meaningful towards the long term. With that, with that, I'll pivot to questions, and we'll get to. that something meaningful in the long term. They're at the job for a long time. A meaningful shift in roster building and development. What's the shift? What happened here? The shift is they want experienced youth, which was a Debbie Gibson song, I believe, right?

Oh no, that was electric youth. Experienced youth. Okay, so what's that? Sexton, Simon, Dillingham and Ivy. Okoro, right? Like that those, that's experienced youth. Giddy, experienced youth. Guys that are still relatively young but have played basketball.

Like ICE, the guy, ICE. Who is that, brother? I'm thinking that's Isaac. Isaac Akuro, yeah, I think you're right. He likes Isaac Akuro. So experienced youth and a new mix of players. The new mix of players, I'll give them. They certainly have shuffled some players to a new mix of players. but I don't know if they got any better.

I think they might have got a little worse. They definitely got a little younger. That's for sure. But you know what they also did? They got rid of expiring contracts for more expiring contracts. This is why I was spending time yesterday thinking... Trying to figure out what they think they're doing. Right.

You go out and you get a Simons who can help somebody right now who's trying for a playoff spot. It's what he was doing with the Celtics. You go out and you get a sexton, you're not going to resign those guys, are you? I mean, maybe they will. They shouldn't. You know, this is what the, nothing against those guys as human beings or players, but the league is filled with a lot of just dudes. Yeah.

The Bulls roster has been that. Just dudes. Just like salary filler. I saw that phrase today and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Anyway, upcoming draft picks, you didn't get any ones. So you've kept your ones. Okay, you're supposed to get more. They have 14-2s.

Okay, financial flexibility sustained. So let's look at the free agent crop for this off season. He thinks they're going to be appetizing and people will want to come in here. We don't have to look at it right now. We'll have time. But I guess that's what he's banking on. That didn't inspire a lot of hope for me. No.

The only thing that I really liked what he said is something that should have been said years ago. and that's the idea of the play-in not being the goal. Yeah, you're absolutely right. And not wanting to be in the middle. Those things are like the things you've been dreaming of hearing him say. But this is not how you'd go about it when you decide that you're going to shift because the play-in should not be the goal and you're tired of the middle. And they've been acting as if the play-in has been the goal. Right.

So I like that they're bringing voice to it. But, well, I'm interested in how some of the answers to the questions go, because that might give us a, he's not reading off a prepared statement in that case, and maybe we can get a clear idea of what he thinks. This is what Arturis had to say when questioned about the Bull's direction. Arturis, in the past, you've been seemingly hesitant to enact this much significant change in one instance to seemingly take a small step back in the short term for potential long-term game.

What changed? I think the timing of stage that we're in as a team. You know, we started this last year, you know, and go into this season. A lot of decisions had to be made without, you know, with a lot of free agents. And that was a great opportunity for us during trade deadline to address and get a lot of draft capital and target very specific players and take a look at them for the rest of the season. Kobe and Isle were expiring, but so are Sexton and Simon. So are you still, you talking about the evaluation period for the rest of the rest of the year?

remainder of the season, but you still face financial decisions this summer. What was the reason behind trading both Kobe and Iowa? I think we have a lot of flexibility this summer. And during the trade deadline, we, you're always risking to, you know, to lose your free agents for, for nothing, right? You can still go back in free agency. We're going to have a lot of room under the cap. So that was, we thought that was good timing to make these changes. All right. So they just didn't want Kobe and I. O. Long term. And they decided it too late because when he says get a lot of draft capital, they didn't get a lot

of draft capital. They got a big pile of seconds. At least they're arguing them, but they didn't get any ones at all. And some of the seconds that they got were bad. And then targeting specific players, Lawrence, so Jaden Ivy, is that what that means? I think he means his free agents. No, I think he means

the guys that they got in trade. That's what I heard him say, like targeting specific players. So you wanted? If you're targeting Simons and Sexton, Simons, I get. The Sexton thing, like, I feel like Colin Sexton is a solid player. But, like, there's actual,

like, upside to Simon. Like, like, that, that actually is, of all the players they got back, he's the only one that's exciting to me. But Casey, put it in his question. Those guys are expiring. So why are you trading for them? So you could have just signed them.

Yeah. You could take a closer look at him? Yep. And so that you can give, you can have them make you bid against yourself. Must be nice. you did with Josh Giddy. Must be nice to have this kind of security.

All right, here's more I can. We did. Do you regret not doing this a year earlier? Because it seems like you guys wasted a year coming to the same conclusion that could have been found at this point last year. I do not. I think we were at that stage as well. We continue evaluating our young guys.

And, you know, Josh, it was Mata's first year. So I think right now it's a good timing and we addressed it. I don't think that's true. a.k. that it's a good timing. That's a great, very pointed question by Joe Calley. It is not... Best way to ask those questions. All right, I'm sorry. Go ahead, Joe. It smacked around the idea of second round picks for the last three or four years, saying they are not good currency, and now you have like 30 of them. So what change there?

Well, you know, second round picks are currency in our industry, and you cannot operate and acquire players and trade players. And I think, you know, we addressed it. the trade deadline and hopefully they're going to contribute to our, you know, our, you know. So he was asked why you've said they're not currency and now we just said they are currency. That's amazing. That is so clean and clear. All right, go ahead, AK. Not wealth. But no, I mean, uh, during a draft, doing free agency and trying to build this team. Obviously it feels like for some time in terms of competitive integrity,

you and ownership and Billy have been sort of aligned in the previous direction. What were the conversations like with Michael and Billy both as you decided to sort of make this hard pivot? Well, you know, Jerry and Michael have been always supportive and they were, you know, obviously involved also during this trade deadline and we worked close together. I've talked also to Billy during the season prior to trade deadline and during the trade deadline as well. So we, I think we're in the lockstep with the stage that we are in. And those moves had to be made and everybody were on the same page. I know previous to this point, you weren't necessarily a fan of the word rebuild.

I guess how are you describing the team's direction now and what does the window look like for you to maybe get back to the standard your hope for it. Well, I'm still staying away from that word. You know, I just would call it as a stage that we are in. I think we have experienced, you know, young players, and we're going to keep on adding player in the draft, and then we're going to address a lot of stuff during free agency. I think unfortunate that Noah wasn't able to play this year. He was injured, so I'm looking forward to seeing him next year, but he's going to be also a big part of our future.

and we're going to continue evaluating now for the next 30 games, players that were here, and the new players that are coming in. Man, so he won't call it a rebuild. It's just the stage we're in. He's still talking like he's trying to build a nest and then add the right superstar eventually. But he gave up completely on the nest he had been building with mediocrity for several years, and now he's trying to sell you like he successfully sold the Reinstarfs

that he deserves to build a new nest of experienced young players. Experience youth. Man. That's where we're at. And again, I'll say, can you name me the game-changing free agent that the Bulls have been able to bring in? No. I cannot. I mean, we watched it when it ended up being boozer.

after it was not DeWade or LeBron or Chris Bosch. Think about how long ago you had to go back to try and find that. Well, and Boozer was the best. Like Ben Wallace was a massive name in Free Agency. But obviously that didn't work out. But like that Boozer year, they were primed and needed one more piece to be great. And they got Boozer who helped them be very good. I know that inside of free agency, a big part of it is the money, the amount of money that one can make.

But players are also hungry for opportunities to win. And if I'm a free agent looking at the Bulls, there's nothing here that makes me go, you are close to winning. There's no vision to believe in. Absolutely none. It's somebody going to say, you know what I want to do? I want to play with Josh Gidey and Modis Bezellis. That's what I want to do. I think there might be people who say, man, that can be a lot of fun.

But it's, is it the type of free agent that you're going to, that's going to catapult you to being competitive? I mean, aren't there other places with better players that that player could play with? Is this, is this the moment where a star says, yep, I would like to come there? I would like to be a part of that. No, they're just going to, you know, keep trying to build. They better tank. If you don't tank this year, if you don't lose every single game that you possibly can, then you are doing a disservice to an opportunity you say you are creating.

He said that they want to evaluate, keep evaluating over the next 30 games. Here's more from AK in the press. When you talk about kind of that evaluation period, can you outline what you're looking for in terms of maybe a few bullet points of types of players, just kind of profile that you're looking for as you approach that free agency and draft process? Yeah, so we're still going to stay obviously with our style of play. And players that we acquired are going to help us to maintain that. In terms of roster balance, it's probably, you know, there's still work to do. But next 30 games are going to be very, very crucial to, you know,

to evaluation period to see what these players can do. I mean, we individually kind of targeted players in these trades. You know, some of them are, you know, obviously free agents, and we're going to have to make decisions, you know. But in terms of style of play and, you know, the character and, you know, toughness, and, you know, there's a lot of players from players that we brought in have that in their profile. So, you know, without going into specific players, I think we're going to have time to evaluate them. This is obviously like a painful process. You're trading away some of

these, you know, fan favorites like Kobe and Iyo, having to maybe take a little bit of a step backwards or sideways to make that progress that you want to. What's kind of your pitch, I guess, of why that is worth it? Because I think from the outside, this can be a very difficult thing to stomach of watching these players go away for what might not feel like a huge return, I think, for some of that. Well, I think being in the middle, Julia, I mean, I think it's being in the middle, that's what we don't want to do. I think we've seen that for the past four years, and we want to change that.

And it's a stage that we're in right now. I think we have to take a look at different combinations of players. And I'm definitely worried about, you know, so many, you know, new people. players on the team and how little time we have for cohesion and get to know each other and all this stuff. But I trust Billy and his staff, they're going to do their best, you know, for the next couple of months to work with this group. What gives you the confidence that you're going to get the kind of a free agent that can make a difference considering the way the organization is right now? I mean, all we can do is prepare for free agency and, you know, have our targets.

in play, and we have a lot of flexibility. I think Chicago is still a desirable market for players to come, and we're just going to take one thing at a time. Sell us on the town. Sell them on the architectural river tour. There's no evidence to what Artura said about free agents in Chicago. And the other thing is everyone's looking at what you're doing as an organization, and they know that what you're doing is absurd.

Shout out to Julia Poe. Great question. And her question is saying this move backwards or sideways is spot on and then asking, how do you feel about the return? Because a lot of people are unhappy with the return. I was texting with a friend whose 13-year-old son is crushed to have lost I.O. and Kobe. And what can you tell that son about what the team got in return for I.O. and Kobe? Or you're really going to like Anthony Simons. You know, I guess that's the vouch.

So you can say you're really going to like Colin Sexton. Sure, he's a free agent in 30 games, but go ahead and fall for him, kid. But maybe there'll be a free agent who decides to come here. You're going to have to have a hard conversation. Oh, Rob Dillingham, it's just you're going to love the 45-year-old, dirty, blonde-haired, mustache-oed actor Rob Dillingham. You're going to love that guy. My Glocki! No, really?

Oh, yes. Ohio, the one that you love? He's going to help Minnesota in the playoffs. and is a phenomenal sixth man. He's an unbelievable three-point shooter these days, I ought to assume, by the way. A development win for the Bulls. Absolutely. A drafting win, a development win, and you gave him away for Squadoosh.

Sorry, buy your kid, league pass. Buy your kid, League Pass. Buy your kid of Caleb Williams, Jersey. Or Jordan, Jersey. Yeah. Show us some highlights on VHS. Seriously. Instead of the Bulls tonight, let's...

Let's watch the Packers game again, kid. That always makes people feel good. Really does. I'll be there. Goody's still upset about it, so it works out. How are you taking that, Brian? Not well. Okay, we've had our say,

we want you to have yours. You heard what Arturists had to say. You heard what his vision is. What do you think about it? 312-644-67-67. 3-1-2-6-4-6-7-67. We want to get your thoughts about the direction, of your Chicago Bulls.

It's next here on the score. 104.3 The Score. Chicago's number one sports station where your good gets better and your better gets best. This is where Chicago comes to talk bears. 1043 The Score. Hey, score listeners, for all station contest rules, go to 1043. Thescore.com slash rules. And good luck.

This segment is brought to you by Metro. Tired of starting and ending your day in mindless, brutal traffic. hop aboard Metro and get where you're going fast. Plus, if you hop on, you can relax and actually enjoy your commute. Our 95% on-time rate means we'll get you where you're going fast and worry-free. Metro, drive less, do more. It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair. Let me tell you, game day is serious business at my house.

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Oh, could this vintage store be any cuter? Right? And the best part? They accept Discover. Except Discover? In a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer. Oh, yeah, huh? Discover's accepted where I like to shop. Come on, baby.

Get with the times. Right, so we shouldn't get the parachute pants? These are making a comeback. I think. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nilsen report. Have you or a family member been diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer that can be removed by surgery? Consider talking to an oncologist about your treatment options.

Why? Because knowing your options before you have surgery, can help your care team develop a treatment plan that's right for you. Learn about a potential treatment plan before and after surgery at ask before surgery.com. That's ask before surgery.com and talk to an oncologist before your surgery. At blinds.com, it's not just about window treatments. It's about you. Your style, your space, your way. Whether you DIY or want the pros to handle it all, you'll have the confidence of knowing it's done right. From free expert design help to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, everything we do is made to fit your life and your windows.

Because at blinds.com, the only thing we treat better than windows is you. Visit blinds.com now for up to 45% offsite wide, plus a professional measure at no cost. Rules and restrictions apply. I'm one of those people who will happily eat steak and eggs any time of the day. Breakfast, dinner, it's technically midnight, but I'm still hungry. Doesn't matter. There's just something unbeatable about a good steak hitting a hot pan. That immediate sizzle.

The smell filling the cake. kitchen and then topping it with a fried egg where the yolk is deep yellow and just barely runny. Unreal. Pure protein heaven. That's also why I love having Omaha steaks on hand. The steaks are incredibly tender, super flavorful and cook evenly, whether I'm searing them on the stove top or throwing them on the grill. It's that steakhouse quality bite at home. Omaha Steaks has everything from their fan favorite filet mignon. Yes, the USDA certified tender one to burgers, chicken, pork, seafood, and even fully cooked comfort meals like beef pot roast or meat lovers lasagna for nights when you still want high protein but zero effort get 50% off the world's best

everyday protein go to omahostakes.com for 50% off site wide during their semi-annual sale and for an extra $35 off use promo code teabone at checkout that's 50% off at omahostakes.com and an extra $35 off with promo code teabone at checkout terms apply see site for details pretty evident that I mean for the next couple of years this thing can kind of play out to be a show I mean do you want to be around for that I mean are you did you sign up for this Yeah, I mean, I understand, too, like these windows sometimes are small, right? And then not to rehash, you know, the five and a half years I've been here. It's true.

No punches have been pulled on the Bulls beat today. None, those guys are killing it, and ladies are killing it. We're giving away a pair of tickets to see the Black Crows and Whiskey Myers, the Southern Hospitality Tour with special guest South Hall. It's coming up on Friday, July 24th at Credit Union One Amphitheater and Tinley Park. Tickets are available at LiveNation.com. Be caller number six to 312-4-0-0-670 when you hear a Black Crow's song a little bit later in the show. Let's take your phone calls about the Bulls.

Let's go to Ben, who's in Wrigleyville. Hey, Ben, you're on the score. Hey, guys, how you doing? I think the saddest part about all of this fandom turning into complete and total apathy. Ownership clearly, they see seats filled every night. They say, why change? I don't blame them, I guess. But if ownership doesn't care, really, why should I?

I'll hang up and listen. Thanks, man. Appreciate it. I know you're not alone. It's a really sad and brutal place for a fan base to be. And unfortunately, it's the only leverage that the fan has. And do you then deny yourself going to see an NBA game because of it, knowing that you've probably, in a lot of cases, save some money.

because you want to go see maybe the other team, which was something that the Bulls used to do back in the Tyson-Channler, Eddie Curry days. Like, come see Alan Iverson. Come see Kobe Bryant. That sort of thing. I think you got to make that choice. I mean, it's what else, what other power do you have?

I agree. But I also understand, especially right now, someone being like, man, I spent $400 on these tickets. I'm going. But maybe next year it's not in your budget to do that. Maybe next year you decide I'm going to spend that $400 going to a national park with my kid or spending a day downtown at the museums with my kid instead of giving it to the Bulls. Let's go to Ozzy.

Hey, Ozzy, you're on the score. Hey, what's going on, fellas? Extremely livid, man. I mean, it's a flamethrower to everything and everyone. You know, I was listening to a moly and a ha earlier, and then they were saying, hey, you know what, ownership shouldn't really take any account. accountability and this her blame. I mean, it's all malpractice on the front office, you know. First of all, we rarely hear from Arturis or Mark Aversley, right? It's almost like after the

deadline and at the end of the season and then they'll rehash the same thing. Well, we're seeing how long we can go and how good these guys can do at the end. And then at the end, it's like, well, we're going to evaluate it and redo it. In the interview earlier, the girl asked a question and And she said, well, you know, we're in the middle, and you don't want to be in the middle. Like, you know, crap. Yeah. We've been in the middle for over six years. They've been in the middle, and we've wanted them to pivot, and this has the look of a pivot.

But as Julia Post said in that question, you're going backwards or sideways, there's way too much sideways here. Way too much sideways here. Everyone hates Merlot. And maybe that's because they waited too damn long. But the fact that they also got expiring deals, when they traded away expiring deals, going to use 30 games to look at this. I can't vouch for what you say, Mully and Hawes said. I did not hear them say that.

I don't even know what show that is. I listen to Mully and Dem Boys. Yeah, it's a very different show. But, man, there absolutely is ownership accountability here. Michael hired A.K. and is sticking with him. Yeah. My issue and continues to be my issue. And I get that this is the part that you want, ideally, is that you're kind of burning it down.

but my issue is I don't trust them to get the talent portion right and what is going to be done eventually should be done immediately Elliot is an Elgin hey Elliot you're on the score

for the Bulls this is Groundhog Day you know dating back to like the 2000s it was draft your core blowed up draft your core blowed up supplement with middling free agents blowed up draft your core blowed

up, then assemble a team of 35 plus guys, your three alphas, blow it up. Draft your core, blowed up. Now it's blowed up again. Thanks for the call. I'll tell you what. When they decided to shoot for the middle with Damar and Lonzo and Vooch, it was like, all right, so they're going to try to be decent and see we can come from that. Build some respectability.

I get it. But then they achieved the middle, and they've been happy there, and staying right there. And even as they make this theoretical pivot. And selling you on staying right there, too. Yeah, because, like, I mean, Cowley got him to say, the second round picks are not currency, immediately followed by second round picks are currency, which is amazing. But the fact that the play-in was acceptable and something worth celebrating is now suddenly that the play-in is not acceptable and anything worth celebrating.

There's a whole lot of who you crap in going on. thing that bothers me is that people from the outside and the Bulls as an organization would deride the people from the outside saying this. We told you that the middle was a bad place to be two years ago. Two years ago.

Fans told you it was a bad place to be two years ago. And now we're supposed to believe that you know how to get out of the middle? I'm not buying it at all. Ice! You're on the score. Ice.

Yeah. How you doing, guys? So I'm mad with the move. It's total trash. We might as well have to kept John Paxson and Garth Farman at the gym. Dude. Same thing that's happening. But I'm also mad about the hometown Chicago public school kid in Iyo, who was a second round pick, turned into basically a first round pick for the franchise, and we let him get away. He earned his respect. But I'm going to end with this. Who says not a law to have a combo GM? We might need to add Ryan Poles to the GM staff of the Chicago pool. I end with that. Ryan's really only have one good year, so let's not put too much on his plate. Let's let him do the thing that he's doing really well right now.

How about Theo Epstein? What's he doing? Go get Theo. I'd hire Theo to come in and take a flamethrower to the process. Making the call out of obligation. Yeah, it's true. Well, you know, the funny thing is like, and you're not going to get Theo. He's a co-owner of some teams, and he's doing just.

fine and enjoy his life. But somebody to come in and take a flamethrower to the organization is right. You know, we have seen the Blackhawks recover from being at the bottom with a bad patriarch owner. And sadly, what had to happen was the patriarch owner had to die. And then the son had to go and get somebody from another organization that knew how a clean organization at least should look and run. And then they went and got another guy from another organization who knew how to build a team that to win. That's what you're going to have to do at some point, bring in people and take their advice, really, really good people. Let's go to Wisconsin and Dan. Hey, Dan, you're on the score.

Hey, what's up, guys? Love you. Love your show. Love your suit. Lovey Smith. But I'm about to go on a rant right now about Arturis, Carnaselvis. This guy is what's called a genius in Denver for luckily falling into a giant point guard who also can play center. And then they bring him over here, and the first red flag is he gets rid of Lorry Marketing, who goes to Utah, becomes an all-star instantly. He's put all these teams together, and they looked good when it was Lobb City in 2022 or whatever it was. But since then, it's been, you know, just trash.

And I just want him to be honest. When he's talking about, I think Julia's question was, you know, he was saying he was nowhere in the middle. Just come out and be completely honest and say, we want to be at the bottom. that's what we're doing we're going to try and then fall into the dray in a lottery and and and then on the way out just resign and on the way out say I can't do nothing with the owners that we have here oh and I'm out and drop the mic and never work again I love it people still calling for the GM or coach or manager to just resign has it happened yet I mean Lu Penella walked away, but that was for other reasons, but it doesn't happen really.

Lawrence, can I tell you the unentertaining part of the trades that I haven't got a chance to get to? No. Damn it. Go ahead. The Knicks have been trying to get rid of Yabaseli, this 30-year-old Frenchman, okay, for weeks. But they have not been able to find any team that would do it. Except for. They found the Bulls.

The Bulls were like... They found the Bulls. They found the Bulls. Bulls are like, we'll take Yabaselli, and they gave the Knicks Daly and Terry. And the Knicks immediately were like, don't want Dail and Terry. What we want is Jose Alvarado.

So we'll go and get him with your Dail and Terry. So thanks for that. And now the Bulls are loaded up on Frenchmen. They have more Frenchmen, right? Because they have three different Frenchmen. Is this a market inefficiency? Is France the new home of basketball?

Well, actually, yes. I watched Court of Gold. That was awesome. It is. There is a lot of talent that's coming out of French national basketball. The problem is, is that the Bulls don't have any of the guys that are good. No, they got the young one who's broken and can't play. There's a lot of young ones on the French national team that are good.

Yeah, and then they got... Young doesn't mean bad. No, no, no, I know. Like, they're young. But Noah's really young. Yeah. Okay. Noah's far, far away.

He's very, very young. but maybe that means that he's not good. You see what I mean? Don't know. But it buys them time. For this evaluation period, Lawrence, his next 30 games are an evaluation period where they can really take a look at stuff. I like Tani's idea that maybe French basketball

is the new San Pedro de Maca Ries for short stops. Yeah, where in France are these guys from? The same region, same town, same city. Are they all from the same area? You're the head of the curve. My point is that Wimby was 20 when he got here. Oh, yeah, he's good. That's young.

He's good, though. Saying, oh, he's a young player, that doesn't mean he can't be good. Cooper Flagg, teenager, really good at basketball. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Bulls have been hiding behind that. Hiding behind young. Oh, this guy's young. Is he good?

We don't really know. They have 30 games to evaluate. five new guards. It's unbelievable. In a system where you have no bigs. Are they young? They're young. They're young.

One of them's also hurt. Yeah, Jaden Ivy, they're going to probably have to decide to sign Jaden Ivy without knowing if he's ever going to be healthy again. And maybe they get a bargain that way. It's shocking because I feel like they did that before. Oh, yeah, I guess they have. This entire management group did that exact thing before. And then that player, they traded, and then he just got cut.

I do want to take a good, long, hard look at Rob Dillingham, because I loved him on Sexton and Simon. I really did. It was terrific. Hi, Sean. You're on the score. Sean. How are you doing? I'm going to try to keep this brief, but it might get loud.

I told my wife I wouldn't yell. What are we doing? Like, what are we? Okay. So I was in the car going through all the trades for my wife, and I'm like the number one free agent is LeBron. And she's like, isn't he going to retire soon? My wife doesn't follow basketball.

Don't tell the Bulls he's going to retire in three years because the whole plan is to pay LeBron and pay the next guy, who's 37 and then the 34-year-old, and then the 39-year-old. What a, like, I get it. I get, okay, we want to get the money off the books. Two years ago. This would have been awesome two years ago. There is no free agent.

There is no, you got no first round picks. Please, anybody who listens, understand. We got no first round picks. We got eight second round picks. The guy said there was no value in second round picks. Now, oh, their value in second round picks. Now, mind you, if you go back farther, when he got hired, he said, we have to go draft to talent.

You cannot go and get free agents. and then he changed his tune on that and said the best way to get free agents is by signing them. So what are we doing? The guy keeps changing his tune. Like, I hope I'm not taking too much of your time. No, Sean.

It's wonderful, Sean. Can I just say, I'm very much looking forward to Sean's crash out video on TikTok later on, because that has all the makings of a guy that is going to rip his computer out of its socket and throw it against the screen.

I feel like I watched him in a Packers jersey after they lost the game. Might have watched that guy. Yeah, it's amazing. They do have to pay free agents after saying they wouldn't, but he's still saying we're not going to skip steps. So if you're not skipping steps, what are you doing? Falling down them. Just treading water on a staircase, which is hard to do.

That is hard to do, actually. Or maybe easier to do, though, right? I'm looking at everybody who can opt out of their player option and become a free agent. How about Austin Reeves? You're ready to build around Austin Reeves? Good player. You know? Maybe.

You're not building around him, though. No, but you're... Building around Luca. Oh, God. Austin Reeves had quite the year. I know. I know. So that's what I'm saying.

Like, I'm looking for a viable option. I'm serious when I bring up Austin Reeves. because all the other player options, hey, Zach Levine might opt out. What would you do that? Maybe they should try that. Maybe now they have the right things in place. We think that if we had a star,

so maybe we bring back Zach, who is a star, and we know he can play. Well, I hope you guys enjoyed all my AK stuff in the first part of the hour. It's really awesome. Thanks, man. Great job today with that. Yeah, here's the thing, though.

This is my note. Yeah. My note is, now you just got to let it live, brother. You got to let it look. Don't keep looking for us. For affirmation. Let it live. The people love it.

I'd lie anyway. So I don't even know why you keep asking me. You know what the people say is they want to hear more Arturis Carnasovic. Nobody says. Why hear the real one when you could hear a fake one? Yeah, they don't want either. It's a good point. All right.

It's done. It's like Matlock. It's like Matlock. It was here today and gone. Tomorrow. We need to take a break. When we come back, a socks player has the same questions we do about the bidets. That's next on the score.

Sports fans, Laylorah Rehemi here. Listen to 104-3 to score for Cubs, Bowls, and Incredible Chicago Sports Talk. On 1043 The Score, presented by the official sports book of the score. Circus Sports. Sports betting the way it should be with no bet fees. Thy ticket, Lady Jennifer of Coolidge. Well, many thanks, good sir. heareth my Discover card.

They accept Discover at Renaissance fairs? Yeah, they do hear. Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop. Geteth with the times. With the times? You're playing the lute. Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right? Discover is accepted at 99% of places

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