The Chicago Bulls remain in a rebuilding phase after missing the postseason in three consecutive seasons.
After moving on from DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, the team has pivoted from its early-2020s core and is now focused on developing its young talent. The club drafted forward Noa Essengue with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and is hoping for a breakout year from Matas Buzelis, who was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Buzelis began his rookie campaign in a bench role, seeing inconsistent playing time and often logging single-digit minutes through the first month-plus of the 2024-25 season. However, the 6-foot-10 forward became a mainstay in the starting five by February, showing his potential over the latter half of the year.
Buzelis will now look to build on his rookie numbers as a central piece of Chicago’s roster this upcoming season, and Joe Crowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has made a bold prediction about his future.
“With contract uncertainty around Coby White and Josh Giddey, there’s no player on the roster more important than Buzelis,” [he wrote](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/08/10/eyes-matas-buzelis-ceiling-remains-sky-high-for-the-forward). “And rightfully so — 6-10 forwards aren’t supposed to have the all-around skills Buzelis boasts. There’s no reason that by the 2026-27 season, Buzelis isn’t leading the Bulls in scoring, field-goal percentage and blocked shots while emerging as the top wing defender/rim protector on the roster.”
**MORE:** [Josh Giddey reportedly declined Bulls' long-term deal amid ongoing stalemate](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/chicago-bulls/news/josh-giddey-reportedly-declined-bulls-long-term-deal/1dbe60600d4eaa8050220e2a)
Buzelis has already shown flashes of star potential. In 27 regular-season appearances following the All-Star break, he averaged 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 36.1 percent from three-point range in 26.9 minutes per game. He also recorded five games with at least 20 points last season, including a 31-point outburst in a blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on March 22.
While Giddey may still work out a long-term deal with the club, White is slated to become an unrestricted free agent and could depart next summer. Giddey and Buzelis have the potential to form a powerful pairing for Chicago in its rebuild and could lead the franchise into its next era.
The Bulls may still be a long way from true title contention, but a sophomore leap from Buzelis could make them a legitimate playoff-caliber team.
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