The Bulls may already be getting a clearer answer on their future than they expected, and it isn’t Matas Buzelis.
Chicago hasn’t exactly lit up the standings this season, but there have been a few real positives in the early going. Caleb Wilson has been the loudest one, putting up 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 43.2% from the floor. Jalen Smith and Norman Powell are also starting to look like legitimate trade candidates, while Noa Essengue has forced his way into the rotation after missing essentially his entire rookie year with an injury.
That leaves the bigger question hanging over the roster: what does the Bulls’ long-term picture actually look like, and where does Buzelis fit into it?
That conversation is getting harder, not easier. Buzelis is extension-eligible before the fourth year of his rookie deal, and the idea of paying him big money was always going to spark debate.
The price tag matters as much as the player, maybe more. If Chicago is going to invest anywhere near top dollar, it needs to see real progress from him as an on-ball creator, a floor spacer, and a player who can mesh next to Wilson.
So far, that growth has been more tease than reality.
Through seven games, Buzelis is averaging 13 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 29% from 3-point range. He’s already had three single-digit scoring nights, including a four-point outing against the Philadelphia 76ers. There have been brief flashes, but the overall production has been underwhelming.
Wilson’s emergence only sharpens the issue. He’s made a strong case as the future of the franchise, showing more than expected on both ends while staying active as a downhill scorer, perimeter threat, rebounder, and team defender. If the Bulls are serious about building around him, every other decision has to be made with that in mind.
That’s where Buzelis’ fit becomes so important. If he’s going to be part of that core, he has to hit shots more consistently and learn how to get his downhill touches without crowding Wilson’s game. Right now, Chicago’s touches are flowing mostly through Wilson, Powell, and Josh Giddey, and Buzelis is still trying to adjust to that reality.
There’s a chance this is just a rough adaptation period. But he also hasn’t offered enough consistent defense or on-ball impact to make the current struggles easy to overlook. His passiveness has stood out, and it’s on him to change that before the season ends.
The money question is where this gets even more complicated. Based on his trajectory and what he’s shown so far, Buzelis’ next deal would probably land around $30 million annually, possibly over five years. That would be above what the Oklahoma City Thunder just paid Cason Wallace, but below the deal the Charlotte Hornets gave Brandon Miller, whom they see as the centerpiece of their future after LaMelo Ball was traded this offseason.
Even if Buzelis hadn’t made a major leap this year, there was a path where Bryson Graham still might have been willing to offer that kind of contract on potential alone. But with Buzelis struggling to fit into the transition-heavy offense Tiago Splitter is trying to build, that kind of confidence is fading.
No one is calling for a Buzelis trade right now. Still, if that’s the route the front office wants to take, it probably needs to happen this offseason. For now, the bigger point is simpler: the Bulls are starting to shape their future, and Buzelis has to prove he belongs in it, especially if the number gets anywhere close to $30 million a year.
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Philadelphia took control in the third quarter, when the game tilted hard in a seven-minute stretch that left the Bulls chasing the rest of the night. Tyrese Maxey powered the offense with 26 points and 11 assists, Jaylen Brown added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and LeBron James chipped in 15 points and nine assists as Chicagos early slide kept getting worse. [Read more 🡒]
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Bulls Suddenly Have Another Frontcourt Concern To Worry About
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Chicago has been leaning on Smith to help cover for injured veteran center Nic Claxton, so any setback there matters beyond one exhibition game. The Bulls do not have much room for another frontcourt issue, and with Smiths status now in question, the team will be waiting to see what comes next before it can get a clearer read on its depth. [Read more 🡒]