The Chicago Bulls had a very tumultuous offseason headlined by their star player, DeMar DeRozan landing in Sacramento via sign-and-trade. The team traded away Alex Caruso and lost Andre Drummond in free agency. The solitary beacon of hope for fans came in the NBA Draft, where the Bulls selected Matas Buzelis. Buzelis was high up on the Bulls’ draft board and astoundingly made it to the eleventh pick, where the Bulls were able to snag him.
After an impressive showing in the Las Vegas NBA 2K25 Summer League, fans are starting to flock to the teenager as a reason to attend games at the United Center in the winter. On a team with a lot of questions, roster instability, and an eye for seasons beyond 2024-25, Buzelis is ripe for opportunity in his rookie campaign. But what should give fans reason for optimism about the G League Ignite product?
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The Chicago Bulls have been bereft of draft capital in recent years. Since adding Patrick Williams, the team has been focused on improving their team elsewhere, chiefly by sacrificing draft picks to try and add immediate talent. If some things had gone differently and Lonzo Ball hadn’t been effectively taken out of the league by a leg injury, that move might’ve been rewarded with regular season success and postseason vibrancy but basketball leadership of the Chicago Bulls, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, has to turn the page on and work on the next iteration of the Chicago Bulls.
That next iteration will include the Chicago Bulls NBA Draft pick in 2024, Matas Buzelis. Buzelis was selected with the eleventh pick in last month’s draft, much to the surprise of the Chicago Bulls. They had Buzelis at the top of their draft board and were floored by the fact that he was still available when they were on the clock. The Chicago local was emotional when it was announced that he was picked and would be playing in his hometown.
How Buzelis Fits With the Chicago Bulls
The 19-year-old Matas Buzelis was emotional on draft day but has put the work in since. Buzelis had a stellar performance in the Summer League, dazzling spectators with his athleticism, quickness, and play-making in transition. Buzelis was recently ranked as the third-best rookie in the Summer League by SB Nation. The success in the Summer League comes after a season in the G League where Buzelis averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds, great production for a precocious teenager.
The 6’10 wing is going to have a lot of opportunities with the Chicago Bulls this season. After the Zach LaVine injury, DeMar DeRozan took over much of the play-making and ball-handling onus. DeRozan is now a King after agreeing to a sign-and-trade that gave the Bulls Chris Duarte and a pair of second-round picks. Alex Caruso is now on the Thunder after being traded for Josh Giddey. Much of the Bulls’ personnel for the 2024-25 season is still up in the air with roles, rotations, and even willingness to play (LaVine) on the table. The chance for Buzelis to make an impact and make it quick is there for the taking.
The lack of shooting and ability to space the floor is going to continue to be a plight for the Chicago Bulls, but the emphasis on on-ball play-making is going to be exacerbated again this season, especially with the addition of Josh Giddey. If Buzelis can find a niche as a rookie with this team, it could be as an athletic slasher who benefits from a defense focusing on playmakers like Coby White, Giddey, and Zach LaVine if he ever plays on the team again, by getting easy looks at the basket or open three-pointers.
Building a Buzelis Future
Aside from Patrick Williams, there is a lot of uncertainty with the 2024-25 Chicago Bulls. They are staring down the barrel of missing the postseason altogether and maybe employing a head coach looking for an off-ramp. Matas Buzelis has turned some heads in the Summer League after being selected 11th in the 2024 NBA Draft. Chicago Bulls fans are desperate for signs of good things to come and Buzelis is as good as they have to hold on to.
The allure of Matas Buzelis might just be a flash in the pan in the wake of a strong Summer League performance but if his game in Las Vegas is a sign of things to come in the regular season, Chicago Bulls fans might have a reason to come to the United Center in an otherwise depressing 2024-25.
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