It has been a slow start to the 2024-2025 NBA Season for some teams and their players. Among them are the Chicago Bulls (9-13), who are to utilize their stacked and young roster.
One player who had a slow start to the season as well is forward Matas Buzelis, who was the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. In 20 games to start the season, Buzelis only scored at least 10 points twice.
On Monday night, Buzelis has his most impactful game of the season against the Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls could look at Buzelis as a future of the team as the Bulls look to be busy during the NBA Trade Deadline.
When the Bulls drafted Buzelis with the 11th overall pick, they knew he had talent and potential, but he would be a project player. He would be a player the Bulls would have to carefully develop so he could play more talented players than at the developmental colleges where he played.
Before Monday’s game against the Nets, Buzelis scored 14 points shooting 6-of-13 in field goals and 2-of-5 from the three-point arc in the 142-131 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 23. He would also account for three rebounds, one assist and one block. He was third on the team in points scored that game as guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic had explosive games by combining for 55 points.
Buzelis had his breakout game of the season against the Nets as he scored a season-high 20 points shooting 7-of-10 in field goals and 4-of-5 from the three-point arc. He would account for five rebounds, one assist and two blocks. Buzelic had a +17 presence on the court for the Bulls as he played excellent defense on top of his best offensive performance of the season.
The Bulls are sitting at a point where they are too good to tank, but they are currently not good enough to contend for an Eastern Conference Finals title. They are currently in ninth place in the East just ahead of the Detroit Pistons. They are a part of a bad conference that has an identity with superteams like the Philadelphia 76ers not playing well.
The Bulls tried to get a starting lineup and a bench of underrated players could be the third option on a championship-contending team.
LaVine, Vucevic and point guard Lonzo Ball (when healthy) are talented veterans, but the problem is that they aren’t game-changing players. This is a big reason why the Bulls changing their identity by putting LaVine, Vucevic and Ball all on the trade block.
If the Bulls got one big star on their roster, it would open up more options for young players like Buzelis to have their chance. These young players need as much exposure to a star leading on the way both on and off the court. For Buzelis he could have a bigger role moving forward. One thing is for certain after the game against Brooklyn, he has made his presence known.
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