The Chicago Bulls are officially five days away from the NBA trade deadline, and you know what that means …

• I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about Feb. 6. After three straight seasons of inactivity, we can never rule out the idea of Arturas Karnisovas standing pat again. To be sure, I doubt it would be because he talks himself into a playoff run, but I could envision him having immense stubbornness about the trade returns from players like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. While you always need to play some hardball, there is a time when a compromise eventually has to be reached. No one is saying Chicago should accept pennies on the dollar, but let’s consider that the mere existence of transactions at this deadline is valuable within itself. The sooner the Bulls step out of the middle and ultimately get the ball rolling in a new direction the better.

• With that said, some of my nerves also center around the Bulls’ ability to make a good trade. Whether it be their first big move for Nikola Vucevic or their recent Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey swap, this front office has left a lot to be desired. The recent Caruso and DeMar DeRozan deals have me especially pessimistic about their ability to maximize the value of their current veterans. I mean, how do you get zero draft capital from the Thunder!? And how do you allow the San Antonio Spurs to get the best asset in a DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade? It’s just so frustrating to know we can’t trust this team to make the right trade – let alone a trade at all!
• The Bulls and Warriors should get on the phone and not hang up until a deal is reached. They have now been mentioned as a suitor for both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic multiple times. Likewise, Steve Kerr sat in front of reporters on Friday night and bluntly admitted that this roster needs work to succeed at the highest level:

“We don’t have enough to separate ourselves from the rest of the West. We’re not in a position where we can just say, ‘no, we’re good. Let’s stand pat.’ That’s the reality of where we are. Mike’s doing his due diligence, doing his job. If there is something that makes sense, he is going to do it,” Kerr said.

• Speaking of trades, do you think it’s a coincidence the Bulls boosted Lonzo Ball’s minutes restriction on Friday night? The guard is now allowed to play 28 minutes a night as he continues his impressive comeback season. I have to imagine that will catch the eyes of at least some rival front offices. To be sure, I’m not going to be shocked if Ball is still on the Bulls past the deadline considering his injury history. But I also wouldn’t be stunned if a contender talks themselves into him. Ball fits into almost any environment and is on an expiring deal. If it all works out, you could potentially re-sign him on a very team-friendly deal. If he struggles to look the same, you could move on in the summer.

• Patrick Williams has looked like a completely different player since Billy Donovan benched him earlier this week. He has scored in double figures in three straight games, and this is also the first time this season he has taken double-digit shot attempts in three consecutive performances. The forward can try to deny it all he wants – and he has – but a switch has clearly flipped for him as part of the second unit. Williams looks a lot more comfortable attacking off the dribble and embracing physicality around the rim. Heck, the biggest difference has probably been his rebounding. Williams now has 7+ boards during this three-game stretch. He was averaging less than 4 rebounds a game prior to this.
• Williams was asked about his poster dunk and stare-down of Jakob Poeltl after the game, and he acted like it was business as usual. Look, I can understand why he is trying to act so nonchalant about his recent play, but I’d almost prefer he recognized that there is a clear difference. This isn’t the same player we watched over the last couple of minutes, and Williams should be honest with himself about that if he wants to remain on this trajectory. Evaluating and understanding what has changed is the only way to avoid regression.

• The more Billy Donovan plays Matas Buzelis, the better he looks …
• Matas Buzelis finished last night with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 4-8 shooting from the field. This marks only the second time in his career that he’s scored double figures in back-to-back games. The energy he brings to the floor is undeniable, and the Bulls should feel extremely optimistic about the rim protection capabilities he continues to show. Likewise, we’re seeing flashes of how versatile he can be on the offensive end. Whether it be cutting for big dunks, nailing catch-and-shoot threes, or even crossing up big men off the dribble, there is A LOT to like about the player he can become on this side of the ball. This is the best I’ve felt about a Bulls draft pick in quite some time.
• Finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds in a nice bounce-back performance last night, Nikola Vucevic moved into 26th on the NBA’s all-time double-double list. What an achievement.
• TRADE SEASON IS OFF TO A HOT START! According to Shams Charania, the Clippers have sent PJ Tucker, Mo Bamba, a second-round pick, and cash to the Jazz for Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills. I can hear the gasps now! In all seriousness, while this trade stinks, it’s a good reminder that the floodgates could very well open this weekend. We’re entering crunch time.