After a disastrous post-trade deadline press conference, Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas attempted a damage control interview with CHSN insider K.C. Johnson immediately afterward. The fan base poorly received the interview, so in another bid to improve his image, the vice president joined beloved color commentator Stacey King on his podcast, ‘Gimme the Hot Sauce,’ hoping to win over the fan base by sharing his journey to Seton Hall and working under executives like Tim Connelly and Daryl Morey.

King and Karnisovas discussed the injuries believed to have derailed his initial roster iteration. The conversation swiftly shifted to Karnisovas outlining his 18-month plan to restore the Bulls to relevance, emphasizing the importance of young players with four to six years of experience in the league and adding rookies to a competitive environment. While this plan sounds appealing at first, the outline raises some concerns upon closer examination.

His vision is vague, given the Bulls’ salary cap situation this summer. Currently, the Bulls are just below the $155 million cap threshold, sitting at approximately $135 million. With Josh Giddey’s upcoming free agency, Bulls insiders like K.C. Johnson speculate that Giddey may re-sign for $22 million to $24 million, leaving the team limited to the $14 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE) and the $5 million biannual exception (BAE) to operate above the cap.

There hasn’t been any official reporting linking either player to the Bulls. However, two players who fit Karnisovas’ description—Naz Reid and Santi Aldama—will be nearly impossible to acquire. Reid is expected to decline his player option, which exceeds the mid-level exception (MLE). Moreover, since the Timberwolves are a second apron team, a sign-and-trade isn’t possible. Aldama is a restricted free agent, meaning the Grizzlies can match any offer unless the Bulls are prepared to part with some of their limited assets to facilitate a sign-and-trade.

To make matters worse, most elite players are signing extensions to avoid free agency, rendering the 2026-27 salary cap space that Karnisovas touts essentially worthless. With no intention of targeting top draft prospects, it’s clear that the Chicago Bulls are likely to remain mediocre, competing only for a play-in spot throughout Karnisovas’ tenure as vice president.

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