As the NBA offseason shifts from lazy to snail mode, ESPN has begun streaming content previewing the upcoming 2024-25 season. That included a poll of league experts. regarding the probable finalists for the awardwhere the Chicago Bulls were very clearly an afterthought. What’s new, huh?
Of course, I didn’t expect a name to be in the MVP or DPOY conversation. Sixth Man of the Year also seemed unlikely with Alex Caruso gone. But I had hope that Matas Buzelis might get a nod for Rookie of the Year. I guess that was a false hope.
Seven players were named when asked who would win the ROY award. The top vote-getters were Reed Sheppard, Zach Edey, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Rob Dillingham, Alex Sarr, and Zacchaire Risacher. I can understand why players like Sheppard and Edey would be the most popular, as they should have the advantage of playing on winning teams. I guess the same could be said for Rob Dillingham, but I have some questions about how big of a role he will actually play in his first year with a contending Minnesota Timberwolves team.
Regardless, the decision to make a case for ROY comes down mostly to the stat sheet. While it’s unclear exactly where Buzelis will slot into the rotation, it’s pretty clear that he’ll play a significant role on this rebuilding Bulls team. Given the poise he showed in Summer League—as well as his two-way performance—I think he could pretty easily find himself in the ROY conversation. That’s especially true when you consider that there simply isn’t a clear favorite for the nod in this draft class. I also think it helps when you’re a highlight-reel machine, which Buzelis could quickly become thanks to his high-flying antics.
We talked more about Buzelis’ ROY potential earlier this offseason if you want to check that out:
The Athletic published a list of 40 under 40 for the NBA this week. To be clear, the ranking does not include players and/or members of the basketball media. The focus was on league personnel such as coaches, executives, agents, etc. So who within the Chicago Bulls organization made the cut? That’s right, nobody! I have to admit, it’s pretty mind-boggling how little this franchise has going for it right now. While I’m excited to see them finally take a new direction on the court, the lack of representation on lists like these (or in the ESPN poll) is a reminder of how far from truly relevant the franchise is.
Indeed, I constantly think back to what Marc Eversley said when he joined the organization as general manager. A former Nike executive, Eversley stressed the importance of restoring and growing the Chicago Bulls brand.
“We’re trying to make this team relevant again, absolutely.” Eversley said in 2020. “It’s the Chicago Bulls, it’s an iconic brand. It has a very rich history. But it also comes with a huge responsibility.”
Relevance was a major topic for the Chicago Bulls early on, but I fear their definition of that word is different than mine. They seemed to think the Big 3 era had made them relevant enough for far too long. Instead of keeping their foot on the gas, they pulled over and took a nap. It wasn’t until they were towed and hit with a hefty fine that they reevaluated their decision-making. It certainly worries me how high they’ll set the bar for the next team in Chicago. Will late-season appearances be considered relevant enough?
The hype surrounding Lonzo Ball’s return continues to grow…
A small part of me was hoping the Chicago Bulls would find a way to bring back Javonte Green. Win or lose, having a player like Green is always better. Not only is he a joy to watch, but he’s the kind of junkyard player whose endless hustle can be contagious. For a team in transition, Green could have helped get the most out of some young players. At the same time, Green deserves to be in a winning environment. He spent nearly all of last season out of the league before immediately showing all 30 teams that it was a mistake. The 31-year-old has worked extremely hard to show what kind of valuable role player he can be, so I’m glad New Orleans is giving him a chance to contribute to a playoff push.
