There have been meaningful minutes for Matas Buzelis so far this season, just not a lot.
In the opener against New Orleans the Bulls rookie saw just under a three-minute stint in the first half and another two minutes in the fourth. In the Friday win over Milwaukee, the forward played almost eight first-half minutes, but just over a minute in the fourth when the game was still in question.
Then came the blowout loss to Oklahoma City in Saturday’s home opener, and it was just under three minutes in the first half, before getting mop-up time in the final stanza.
Development for the 11th-overall pick from the June draft or growing pains for the 20-year-old? Likely somewhere in between.
Coach Billy Donovan knew back in fall camp that he had to find playing time for Buzelis, but also was dealing with a deep rotation, leaving him a tough needle to thread. But it’s also the fine line that the entire organization has been trying to navigate since making the offseason roster changes.
Are the Bulls a team that is competing or are they trying to develop young talent? If it was up to executive vice president of basketball operations it would be both, which is almost an impossibility in the NBA.
But what’s the best way to go forward with Buzelis here early on in the season?
“With the number of guys we have there at that (forward) position, I want to help Matas develop and grow but also want to make sure there’s groups out there that will function together,” Donovan said. “So for us I think it’s still a work in progress with some of the rotations.”
Leaving Buzelis in a holding pattern.
As of Sunday, the 6-foot-9 rookie was averaging 6.9 minutes per game, which was 24th in the league for rookies. He was 27th in scoring in his class (1.7 points per game).
And while this was considered a weak class, especially with what’s coming next June, Buzelis was still considered a top five talent that just happened to slide down to the Bulls. No different than Dalton Knecht, who has been showing some real promise as a pure outside shooter for the Lakers, or Washington’s Carlton Carrington, who leads all rookies in minutes played so far.
Ideally, what Donovan is trying to accomplish – which no one with the Bulls would admit – is making sure Buzelis is getting a taste in these early-season games, but showcasing hopeful trade assets like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball.
If they can move any one of those players and even package expiring contracts like Torrey Craig’s or Jevon Carter’s, then that should clear more minutes for their rookie.
A lot of ifs.
So what can the Bulls do until the season shows itself a bit more? That’s why the coach has been “open” with Buzelis possibly getting some game in with the Windy City Bulls of the G League.
“I think we’re going to need a lot of players just because the way we’re trying to play,” Donovan said. “We’ve got to find ways to get him in there when we can so he can get something out of it. Now if it is a situation where is the G League an option? Absolutely. He likes to play and he’s been open minded to do whatever he’s got to do to develop.”
Which Buzelis didn’t dispute. At least to a point.
“If I go down there it’s not my goal to be down there,” the rookie said. “I’m going to work my way up to the big team and try to get minutes on the Bulls roster. But if I have to go down there, I don’t take it as disrespect. I’m there to learn and advance as a human and a basketball player.”