There are a lot of mistakes you could point to when assigning blame for the failure of the Chicago Bulls under Artūras Karnišovas. But I’d argue most of them trace back to the same core issue: talent evaluation.
It explains why the Bulls didn’t receive significant returns for players; they held onto them until the rest of the league no longer valued them the same way. It explains why Chicago refused to engage in tanking, believing there was more value in being mediocre than being bad.
And it even explains the very first decision Karnišovas had to make back in November 2020, one that, in hindsight, was also a misread of talent.
© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesArtūras Preferred Patrick Williams Over Tyrese Haliburton Despite What Scouts Said
On November 19, 2020, the Chicago Bulls held the fourth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and selected Patrick Williams. It was the lockdown year, no NCAA Tournament, limited scouting, and a much, much higher margin for error.
Taking the youngest player in the draft earlier than expected could make sense if their draft board had fallen apart.
But at No. 4? That’s a different story. Especially when there was another prospect still available, one that people in the war room clearly preferred, but Artūras Karnišovas didn’t.
According to a report from Joe Cowley:
“There were multiple scouts and other personnel in the draft room that wanted Tyrese Haliburton,” Cowley reported. “Karnišovas was not only fixated on Williams, but didn’t even consider Haliburton a serious prospect. The source indicated that Karnišovas didn’t feel Haliburton would be a top-four talent on the Bulls roster at the time.”
So the scouts—the people paid to evaluate talent and inform decisions—had their voices overruled by a new VP who seemed locked in after, what, one Patrick Williams workout?
That alone tells you a lot about how this AKME era was going to unfold.
@ Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesAnd the worst part was that Haliburton wanted to be in Chicago. He said it himself before the draft:
“I think I fit well in Chicago with two guards in Coby and Zach that can score at a high level. I can come in right away, take some of that burden off, and facilitate. But I can also play off the ball and knock down shots. Whatever is needed… I’m ready to do.”
He had the workout with Chicago. He had the interview, one that reportedly felt more like a ‘conversation than an interrogation’.
He impressed people in the building, and reportedly, there were literally voices pushing for him. But there was also a new decision-maker who was trying to make a statement.
For Karnišovas to believe Haliburton wouldn’t even be “top four in Chicago”, when just last season he was arguably flirting with being top four in the world, is the clearest possible example of a fundamental problem in talent evaluation.
For context, Williams didn’t start a single game at Florida State, literally meaning he wasn’t top five on his own college team. Meanwhile, Haliburton, with far stronger production, was one of the best players in his conference.
And the biggest irony? By December 2025, the Chicago Bulls were reportedly trying to replicate the Indiana Pacers offense from the previous season, an offense run by Tyrese Haliburton, using Josh Giddey. When they could’ve just drafted Haliburton in the first place.
The Chicago Bulls are trying to follow the Indiana Pacers’ formula and believe they have their Tyrese Haliburton in Josh Giddey, and they’re now searching for their Pascal Siakam, per @JamalCollier “They have Haliburton, who is an All-Star, and they have Siakam. If Giddey can… pic.twitter.com/KI0Lmdsclv
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 1, 2025Now, with reports like this, along with recent comments from Deni Avdija, another All-Star-level talent the Bulls passed on in that same draft, it only adds more fuel to the fire.
"The whole world thought Chicago will take me at 4… When Chicago drafted Patrick Williams it was a surprise. Nobody really thought about him going four… nobody really knew his name."– Deni Avdija on the draft(Via @OldManAndThree, h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA) pic.twitter.com/iExwHWJ07p
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 15, 2026With the Bulls holding two strong first-round picks in what’s shaping up to be a stacked 2026 NBA Draft, and a new voice in charge of decision-making, all you can do is hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Also Read:
How does the Firing of Artūras Karnišovas & Marc Eversley Impact the Bulls 2026 NBA Draft Strategy?Hence then, the article about ak believed tyrese haliburton wouldn t be top 4 on the bulls report was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( AK Believed Tyrese Haliburton Wouldn’t be ‘Top 4’ on the Bulls (REPORT) )
Also on site :