Whether Karnišovas and Eversley will cash in that financial flexibility in 2025 is unknown. The three-team LaVine trade brought the Bulls' 2025 first-round pick back to Chicago, and a long-term approach could involve simply building through the draft and preparing for an explosive 2026 offseason.

Thus, it's win or go home for the Heat, Bulls, Mavericks and Kings tonight. The winner of Heat-Bulls will play the Hawks, who lost to the Magic in last night's Play-In game, for the No. 8 seed in the East. The winner of Mavericks-Kings will head to Memphis to play the Grizzlies, who lost to the Warriors last night, for the No. 8 seed in the West.