Arturas Karnisovas is making up for lost time.
After making just four player trades between 2021 and 2025, Karnisovas has now made six trades in the last week as he systematically dismantles the roster he once touted for its youth, athleticism and long-term viability.
In the latest move, the Bulls’ EVP sent Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves for another underwhelming return.
The deal in full:
- Bulls get: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, four second-round picks (worst of Denver & Golden State’s in 2026; Cleveland’s in 2027; best of Minnesota & Golden State’s in 2031; best of Phoenix & Houston’s in 2032)
- Timberwolves get: Ayo Dosunmu, Julian Phillips
Dosunmu is in the midst of his best season ever, averaging a career-high 15 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting, 45.1 percent from three and 85.7 percent from the line.
The Chicago native and Illini alum was a fan favorite in his hometown and emerged as a true leader in the locker room, who will be sorely missed by the remaining Bulls. He projects as a fantastic fit in Minnesota, playing off of Anthony Edwards, attacking the basket, hitting threes, and playing some off the dribble. The Wolves’ already fantastic defense also gets a massive upgrade.
As for the Bulls’ return, Dillingham is another top-10 pick (No. 8 overall, 2024) who failed to launch in Minnesota. A super small guard, Dillingham was a smooth shooter and electric scorer in college at Kentucky but hasn’t seen it translate against NBA size and physicality.
He now joins an overly-saturated yet small backcourt with Jaden Ivey, Tre Jones, Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton. Expect the Bulls to continue flipping some of these guards as they eventually try to put a cohesive roster together.
Leonard Miller is another interesting swing who hasn’t been able to crack the Minnesota rotation. Like Matas Buzelis, Miller is a G League Ignite alum — a big forward who can play with the ball in his hands. Upside flier at best in his age-22 season.
The Bulls have now added nine second-round picks to their treasure trove and own 14 total. This is a fascinating change in perspective from a team that refused multiple seconds for Andre Drummond in favor of a Play-In push just a few years ago. Now, they appear to be the primary return as they offload Dosunmu, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic.
Without those three, the soul has been removed from the team. This is the full-scale rebuild that many have insisted was inevitable for years. Unfortunately for the Bulls, they waited far too long to capitalize on the once positive value assets that should have been able to return first-round capital. Now, they enter a rebuild with some long-shot upside players and a bunch of seconds they will look to move in future deals.
They’ll almost certainly continue making moves before the 2 p.m. deadline as they reshape the roster around Buzelis and Josh Giddey, perhaps attaching some of the second-rounders they’ve picked up with more of their guards to add frontcourt depth.
They have too many small guards to play and need to get a good look at Ivey and Dillingham to determine whether they’re worth keeping. And they lack frontcourt depth, even after last night’s Dalen Terry-for-Guerschon Yabusele deal, which was a real head-scratcher.
Yabusele, 30, has a $5.7 million player option next season, cutting into their potential cap space for next season. Since the Bulls were willing to take on that money, they likely view him as a player who can help them — and they do need his size. He should be better in Chicago than he was with New York, but it’s unclear why the Bulls, who just gutted their core, want to make themselves better this season.
