CHICAGO — When Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan described his team’s approach heading into Thursday’s trade deadline, he said the focus would be on a long-term approach rather than moves that would only benefit them for the rest of this season.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve identified it either way, buyers or sellers, as we’re looking just to constantly try to improve the team,” Donovan said before Wednesday’s game. “It’s something where we’ve gotta be patient and be in for the long haul.”
And the night before the 2 p.m. deadline, the Bulls turned in one of their least inspired performances of the season, a 103-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was not the kind of game that convinced anyone the Bulls (19-23) are a serious threat for a sustained playoff run, losing to the Cavs without guard Collin Sexton.
Darius Garland paced the Cavs (17-27) with 22 points, while Zach Lavine scored 22 for the Bulls.
It was the sixth loss in the past nine games as the team approaches its first deadline under new executives Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversely. They have had a season to evaluate this young roster, which was virtually unchanged from a year ago and given a chance to prove itself.
Instead, the goodwill and progress the Bulls appeared to have made early in the year has stalled.
And the schedule doesn’t get any easier from here. Nine of the next 10 games are on the road, against a plethora of Western Conference opponents.
“The one thing I have gotten from Arturas is, I think he’s looking at the long-term vision of the organization and doing things that are gonna help us long-term,” Donovan said. “And I think he’ll be very patient and diligent, he and Marc, in making those kinds of decisions.”
