The Chicago Bulls have been in a tough spot for years, but one player might be their ticket out.
Last season, the Bulls secured their third straight exit in the play-in tournament. After another mediocre season, Chicago’s direction continues to be a mystery.
Over the past few years, the Bulls have been too bad to be truly relevant but too good to be in the mix for a top pick. However, they might have hit on one of their late lottery selections and could be in a perfect spot moving forward.
Time for Buzelis to break out?
In a recent article from Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, he picked Matas Buzelis as the Bulls’ potential breakout player for next season. Noting that it isn’t exactly a hot take that Buzelis will take a step forward in year two, Hughes believes the young star could soon emerge as a true building block for Chicago.
As Hughes mentioned, Buzelis’ improvement after the All-Star break should be enough for Chicago to go all-in on the 2024 first-rounder. With a legitimate shot of ending up as his draft’s best player, Buzelis’ potential leap in his second season could put the league on notice.
In an inconsistent role last season, Buzelis averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds. With a 6-foot-10 frame and some clear athleticism, it would be no surprise to see those numbers spike dramatically by 2026.
No guarantee that the Bulls will be able to compete in the East next season, even if Buzelis takes another step, it can’t hurt Chicago if its young forward steals the spotlight.
