The Bulls have plenty to sort through in this rebuild, but the real pressure point may not arrive until next offseason, when Matas Buzelis becomes extension-eligible.
Chicago’s new lead executive, Bryson Graham, has already brought a clearer sense of direction this summer, and the Bulls’ jump to fourth in the NBA Draft Lottery gave them Caleb Wilson, a potential future star. Even so, much of the roster still reflects the previous regime, which leaves plenty of evaluation ahead. By 2026-27, the team will still be working through questions about players such as Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Leonard Miller, and Rob Dillingham.
Buzelis is different. His extension could become the first major front-office call that truly shapes the rebuild, and maybe defines it. If the Bulls misread the situation, they could bog down the whole process before it has a chance to settle into place.
That doesn’t mean Chicago has to rush. Buzelis will only be entering his third NBA season, and the Bulls can always choose to let him play into restricted free agency if they want more time to gather evidence. That path is always there for teams that still have doubts about a player’s market value.
Still, the Bulls would rather not have to wait around on the question. Buzelis already showed real growth last season, scoring more often and looking increasingly comfortable handling the ball from one game to the next. He closed the year at 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, while hitting 34.9% from three on healthy volume.
What makes this especially tricky is the fit with Wilson. Chicago’s long-term vision in the frontcourt will depend on whether Buzelis can space the floor, work off the ball, and provide enough complementary playmaking to make that pairing functional. Those are the kinds of details that decide whether a young forward is just useful or truly part of the core.
If Buzelis takes another big step, the Bulls would almost certainly be willing to pay. Based on where he stands now, that kind of deal would likely land around $30 million a year over four or five seasons.
But the organization can’t just hand out that money without more proof if the development stalls. With more young talent on the way, Chicago has to be careful about committing major dollars to a player who still has gaps in his game. Letting him leave doesn’t sound like a real option for Graham, so the question becomes whether the Bulls would rather wait for true star-level consistency or strike early if Buzelis pops.
There’s no simple answer here, and there rarely is when a restricted free agent still has things to clean up. The Pistons’ situation with Jalen Duren this offseason and Chicago’s own experience with Josh Giddey last year are reminders of how messy these decisions can get.
Graham’s smaller moves will matter, sure. But the Buzelis extension is the first one that could shape Bulls basketball for the next half-decade. That’s the one he has to nail.
In Other News...
Bulls Could Find Cheap Frontcourt Help In One Crowded Knicks Battle
The Knicks 2026 training camp roster is shaping up to be a crowded one, with several players who already have NBA experience all trying to carve out a spot. Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks and John Konchar are all in the mix, but New Yorks financial constraints make it unlikely the team can hold onto everyone, which naturally puts other front offices on alert.
For the Bulls, that creates a possible path to inexpensive frontcourt help if the market breaks the right way. Chicago has been tied to the idea of monitoring that group closely, but the appeal appears to be centered more on the size and role of Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman, while the other names are drawing less enthusiasm because of fit and career-stage concerns. If New York has to trim the roster, this could become one of those late-summer situations where a team like Chicago waits patiently and tries to land the right bargain before someone else beats it to the punch. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Have A Final Two-Way Decision Worth Watching In Camp
The Bulls have added two more names to training camp in Peter Suder and Houston Mallette, giving themselves a little more time to sort through the final two-way spot before the season gets rolling. Suder is the more interesting of the pair for Chicagos purposes, a guard whose college production at Miami (OH) put him on the radar and who already has some NBA experience after drawing attention as a developmental prospect.
For the Bulls, the point now is less about headlines and more about sorting out who best fits that last opening when camp battles start to matter. Suders path has had its ups and downs, including a rough showing in Summer League, but Chicago is still in evaluation mode and has made clear this final decision is one worth watching as the roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Rebuild Already Faces One Frustrating Question Around Its Young Core
Chicagos reset under new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has been easy to spot, even if the direction has remained carefully measured. The Bulls spent the offseason trying to balance development with stability, bringing in veterans Norman Powell and Nic Claxton to steady the locker room while also making room for young pieces such as Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey to grow into bigger roles.
Still, the rebuild is already running into the kind of question that tends to linger around teams in this stage: whether the front office is being patient or simply too cautious with its flexibility. The Bulls had cap room to work with and a chance to chase more young talent, but the path they chose leaned toward immediate structure and veteran presence, leaving the organization with a clearer identity and, for now, an open debate about whether it maximized a rare opportunity. [Read more 🡒]