Bulls weigh development of Buzelis while eyeing help at center
bulls-development-buzelis-young-center-search
Second-year forward Matas Buzelis remained on the bench for the entire fourth quarter of Wednesday’s victory over Utah, a decision head coach Billy Donovan said was based on the collective struggles of the unit that opened the third period. Donovan reinserted the other four players in the final frame but left Buzelis out, prompting questions about the organization’s commitment to the 21-year-old’s growth.
“I’m not trying to be vindictive,” Donovan told reporters. “There’s a standard of play. He has to hold himself accountable and responsible.”
Chicago Tribune writer Julia Poe contends the Bulls’ focus on squeezing out wins offers limited long-term value for a team that has hovered around .500, arguing that extended minutes would allow Buzelis to learn through mistakes in the same way prospects on rebuilding clubs do.
Donovan praises Buzelis’ attitude
Donovan said Buzelis never makes excuses when errors occur, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “He utilizes mistakes as a way to grow,” the coach noted, adding that he doesn’t have to encourage the forward to stay engaged after miscues.
Front office searching for young center
The Bulls have been exploring ways to add a young big man, sources told Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com. Chicago has reportedly shown interest in Yves Missi, whose role with New Orleans has diminished in his second season. The team currently relies on Nikola Vucevic and Zach Collins—both on expiring contracts—while Jalen Smith toggles between power forward and center.
Smith’s offseason work paying off
Smith, 25, finished last season outside the rotation but responded with a strong summer and now owns the club’s best on/off numbers for 2025/26, Cowley reports. “He’s been great for us,” Vucevic said. “Playing the four, playing the five—protecting the paint, rebounding, bringing physicality.”
Persistent middling results
Former Sun-Times writer Mark Potash highlighted the Bulls’ eight consecutive 41-game stretches of near-identical outcomes: four at 19-22, two at 21-20, one at 18-23 and one at 20-21, underscoring the franchise’s sustained mediocrity.
Source: Hoops Rumors
