Earlier this week, Chicago Bulls’ head coach Billy Donovan announced that rookie forward Matas Buzelis will be sent to the G League. He will still be on the NBA roster but will spend most of his time working with the Windy City Bulls.
The first-round rookie has not seen much playing time through eight games. The organization believes that the G League will speed up his development. He averages five minutes per game with 32 total minutes of playing time. It may be disappointing to see the No. 11 pick sent down early, but it’s a good thing.
Current status of project Buzelis
The first thing people should understand is that the Bulls are not in tanking mode right now. The front office is still thinking about winning as many games as possible. It may not look like it, but the Bulls are pushing for the playoffs.
There was a lot of talk about whether Buzelis will create competition in the depth chart for the forward position. This move is a good decision so he can get the reps he wouldn’t get with Chicago.
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Also, Buzelis was quickly recalled within 24 hours of breaking the news; it confused many Bulls fans. Do they want him to sit on the bench and get some cardio for five minutes? Or can he stay in the G League and work on his skills while he waits for his time to come?
This isn’t Donovan’s first rodeo
Donovan has been here before. Last year, he sent the 2023 first-round pick, shooting guard Dalen Terry, to the G League. It gives opportunities for these players to show what they can do. Donovan preaches the principle of earning playing time.
“(Buzelis) has got to earn minutes,” Donovan said to reporters. “He is going to make mistakes. He is young, and part of his development is learning how competitively and hard he needs to play in every possession.”
Buzelis’ potential is beyond great, and Donovan is looking out for his long-term success. Donovan is viewed as a development guy, which was one of the reasons he earned recognition as a co-coach of the year in 2020. It is best for Buzelis’ potential, as long as he stays down and doesn’t waste his time on an NBA bench.
Again, they are trying to retool their roster. Buzelis’ impact in his first year will not do as much to help the Bulls win basketball games. If dealt with the right way, Buzelis getting reps now will benefit the Bulls for years, adding him to a talented core with point guard Coby White and shooting guard Zach Lavine.
Bulls’ developmental history
The Bulls have had some issues surrounding the development of its players. It appears some athletes blossomed into better roles after leaving Chicago. One big example is power forward Lauri Markkanen. The season after he departed from the Bulls in 2021, Markkanen was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. There, he started growing into a key player — the kind that teams want to build around. Now, he is slowly finding success with the Utah Jazz.
Ever since the coaching change in 2021, there have been some improvements in development, but not enough. White has seen tremendous improvement as a role player and one of the main contributors to the offense.
Donovan has his way of developing players. Eyes have been on the 2021 fourth-overall pick, power forward Patrick Williams, and his shaky Bulls career. Williams is a gem and has the potential to be a great asset. However, he still hasn’t shown much consistency in his overall performance.
The Bulls still want to compete and develop their players, but knowing it takes time can create restlessness within the roster and front office. They are not happy with the repetitive play-in tournament appearances — they are not looking to tank but rather retool the roster. A question remains: Is this the right way to develop young talent?
After the 2023-24 season, fans discussed the idea of a complete Bulls rebuild. What they’re doing now isn’t necessarily a rebuild but a reformation. At some point, a legitimate rebuild may be necessary if they continue to accept losing seasons. Fans may never get the same joy that came with being a Bulls fan in the ’90s, but they’ll grasp any hope they can get.
@Jon_Mathew23
