Matas Buzelis was benched for the entire fourth quarter during Wednesday’s win over Utah and Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune argues the Bulls aren’t placing enough of a priority on the 21-year-old’s development.
Head coach Billy Donovan said the decision to sit Buzelis wasn’t solely on him but on the entire unit that was playing poorly in the third period. However, Donovan reinserted the other four players into the game in the final frame and not Buzelis, Poe writes.
“I am not trying to be vindictive at all,” Donovan said. “I just think that there’s a standard of play — and with that, an understanding that there’s going to be mistakes, right? It’s not so much to teach him a lesson, but there’s certain things he’s got to mentally hold himself accountable to and responsible for.”
The problem with Donovan’s win-at-all-costs approach is the Bulls aren’t good enough for those victories to be meaningful in the long run, Poe contends, whereas giving Buzelis a longer leash could give him a chance to learn from his mistakes like young players on tanking teams are given the opportunity to do.
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Donovan wants to help Buzelis improve as a player and respects the fact that the second-year forward doesn’t offer excuses when he makes errors, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m just trying to put on him the things that he can control that would impact winning, regardless of if he’s making or missing shots,” Donovan said. “He just kind of can move forward and take the information and figure out where he’s got to get better and how he’s got to get better, and I admire that about him. He’s not a guy that buries his head where you gotta pick him up, ‘Come on, everything is going to be OK.’ You never have to do that with him. He always comes back with, ‘I messed that up, I messed this up, I gotta be better, I’ve got to put my body here.’ I appreciate that. There’s never, ever from him, ‘Well, but this . . .’ Never does that. I think he really utilizes mistakes as a way to grow.”
- The Bulls are interested in adding a young center to their roster and have been looking to fortify the position “for some time,” sources tell Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com. Afseth reported on Friday that Chicago has been linked to Yves Missi, whose role with New Orleans has been reduced in his second season. The Bulls currently have Nikola Vucevic and Zach Collins at the five, with Jalen Smith playing both power forward and center. However, Vucevic and Collins, who is currently out with a toe injury, are both on expiring contracts.
- Smith was out of the rotation at the end of last season and he used it as motivation to improve over the summer, according to Cowley, who points out that the 25-year-old big man has the best on/off numbers on the team in 2025/26. “He’s been great for us honestly,” Vucevic said. “Playing the four, playing at the five, different situations, different positions. He’s done a great job for us protecting the paint, rebounding the ball as well, bringing us some physicality. I’ve enjoyed being out on the court with him. I think our two-big lineup helps us, and I think we have good chemistry. Yeah, he’s been doing a lot for us. When ‘Stix’ plays that way and he’s aggressive it makes us a much better team.”
- The Bulls have been remarkably consistent — in a mediocre way — over the past eight half-seasons, observes former Sun-Times writer Mark Potash (Twitter link). In the last eight 41-game spans, the Bulls have gone 19-22 four times, 21-20 twice, and 18-23 and 20-21 once apiece, Potash notes.
Development =/ you must give a young player unlimited minutes, including when they are not playing up to their capabilities and/or making too many mistakes. I hate these lazy sorts of takes. If Buzelis was only playing very limited minutes it would be one thing, but he’s been playing plenty this year. And how on earth is a young played supposed to be held accountable for their play if they would know they will be gifted minutes and opportunity no matter what?
Almost none of the great coaches believe in this nonsensical approach to player development for a reason. And like with most things in life, it’s a delicate balance.
Billy should be gone long time ago,but I agree with this one.Buzelis is a mess right now,PW too,there are people who can chuck threes,these two should live in the paint with their bodies,forget threes,forget easy living,go to paint and help Vuc.You two been drafted for athleticism,not for being Currys.Goddamnit,do I need to do your job I’m not paid for?
Bulls have been mediocre for so long I think they’re starting to enjoy it.
Who has Billy d developed in the league? He sucks at it and can’t put players in correct spots to succeed and get any confidence look at Williams.
Patrick Williams
He reminds me a lot of Doc: a head coach players seem to love on a personal level, but when it comes to actual coaching he sucks.
“ have been looking to fortify the position for some time “ … well clearly not as far back as the draft !
I think that eventually the spurs’ Dylan Harper is going to become the most effective player in his draft class, because player development isn’t about minutes or accountability – It’s about fitting into the system. Some teams think they have a system while all they have is entitled “superstars” that force everybody to play around them instead of making everybody else better.
I’m curious to see how the Mavs are going to screw up Flaggs raw talent. I don’t know which kind of player he’ll become, but I do know his potential not be reached in Dallas lol
It’s not up to the players to develop talent. Their job is to play to win. The coaches and management job is to develop talent. That’s why you have a G-league. Today too many teams are expecting young picks to come in and save them. Doesn’t always wirk like that.
Is Donovan a clown?
I am saying that with the outmost respect, I mean he really thinks CHI can win even one playoff series, seriously?!?!?
Donovan isn’t an NBA coach. In OKC he had more talent there than any team in history. A real coach would gave won 2-3 rings there. What’s he done in Chicago?? He has changed the core three times now. And still has not settled on a core. You think Buzelis is saving the Bulls. He’s doing what all young talent does.
They are trying to find their way in the NBA. And it takes what it takes. There is no set time limit. Bulls haven’t even settled on Josh yet. Cause if you had. You would have identified his running mate by now.
Bulls need to settle on a core. And Billy isn’t the coach for that OBVIOUSLY …..