It’s not Noa Essengue’s fault.
After all, the Bulls fell on the 18-year-old Frenchman, he didn’t fall on them.
Yet, here we are at about the quarter mark of the regular season after Saturday’s tilt with Indiana, and of all 14 lottery selections from the highly vaunted 2025 NBA draft class, Essengue (selected No. 12) has seen the least amount of floor time and it’s not even close.
Again, not his fault.
What he is, however, is a by-product of a Bulls front office that works from a place of very little urgency, if any. Essengue is just the latest reminder of that in the wake of the organization even coming out with total transparency on draft day and admitting that he was a project. A kick-the-can-down-the-road talent that might emerge in two seasons. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was 100% truthful.
Be patient.
It doesn’t matter that Karnisovas promised a return to the Michael Jordan Championship glory days when he was hired now going on six seasons ago.
Be patient.
It doesn’t matter that Karnisovas operates from a place where he has now signed two backroom contract extensions despite one playoff game win on his resume in this post.
Be patient.
It doesn’t matter that this front office is wasting the talent of a Coby White, Josh Giddey and a Nikola Vucevic because of a failure to understand the most important aspect of their job – roster construction.
Be patient.
Sorry, patience has run out. It ran out a few years ago, actually. It was just pardoned through the first few weeks of this season when the Bulls were the talk of the Association, off to an impressive 5-1 start. Wins over Detroit, Orlando, New York and Philadelphia were the buy in. Hey, maybe this front office finally figured it out?
Nah, just the latest mirage. A crawl through the heat and sand only to find a dried-up puddle littered with bones.
Since the stellar start, the Bulls went 3-8 with losses to the likes of Utah, New Orleans and Charlotte. And not only losses, but embarrassment. A team that lacks physicality and plays way too soft. Basically, the same team that Miami humiliated in the play-in game last April.
Yet, Karnisovas fell in love with the 15-5 end of the regular season rather than the last game that was played in the 2024-25 campaign and ran it all back with the addition of Isaac Okoro. Why not? Job security isn’t on the table. Urgency is for the other 29 other executives around the league to be concerned about.
That’s why Billy Dononvan once again found himself trying to answer for the franchise on Saturday, as Karnisovas speaks with the media less than a handful of times a year.
“Going back to the summer, ok, the physicality, competitive part of the team, that was the next iteration,” the coach said when asked about roster construction concerns. “I think Arturas even mentioned that we’ve got to evaluate guys.
“This is how I look at it as I take a bigger view of everything: There is no question we have to get better in that area (of physicality and defense) collectively as a group. I do think that some of the minute restrictions – and no one’s fault because it is what it is – I think (Zach) Collins being out and Okoro not playing (back issue), I think that has really impacted us, so we haven’t been whole. Coby (White’s) in and out has been tough. The West Coast swing, six (games) in nine (days), all those things have been tough, but you know what, everybody has to deal with it so I’m not making an excuse. But the consistency part has been what’s been disappointing to me. It’s been too much up and down.”
Great. More evaluating from Karnisovas on what’s been in front of his face for several seasons. The Bulls lack physicality, size and a killer instinct on the defensive side of the floor.
Here’s a novel idea: Fix it.
Okoro was a solid addition, but he can only guard one player on the other team. Matas Buzelis is promising as a rim protector but is in Year 2. Essengue could be an elite defender, but who has five years to wait?
Actually, Karnisovas probably does.
This season only ends three ways: One, the Bulls front office does what it should have years ago, blows it up by sending their numerous expiring contracts out, looks for draft assets, and takes advantage of a loaded 2026 draft class.
Two, take a big swing by adding an Anthony Davis, hope he can stay healthy, and help the Bulls take advantage of an Eastern Conference in which Boston and Indiana are each in down years because of injuries.
Three, stay the course of evaluation, hope the talent jump comes in-house, and pre-pay for the hotel rooms for the play-in game down on South Beach. In other words, do what Karnisovas has done for years and will do again.
Be patient.
When there’s no urgency or accountability, he’s afforded that luxury.