Grading Matas Buzelis: Is He the FUTURE of the Chicago Bulls? | CHGO Bulls Podcast

The CHGO Bulls crew continue their Player Evaluations for the 2024-25 season with the midseason trade arrivals: Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and Zach Collins. Peck, Big Dave and Will give their grades for each player in their limited sample sizes, and discuss the potential roles for each player next season. Plus, the guys react to Gregg Popovich stepping down as the Spurs head coach and review the NBA Playoffs action from Thursday night.

The CHGO Bulls crew discuss the Milwaukee Bucks being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs and how it will impact Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the team. Will Giannis request a trade from the Bucks? And if he does, what are the chances he'll be looking at the Chicago Bulls as an ideal destination?

The CHGO Bulls crew continue their Player Evaluations for the 2024-25 season with Matas Buzelis. The 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft had to fight to earn a role in Billy Donovan’s rotation his rookie season. And earn it he did, getting 31 starts and seeing a big jump in minutes over the back half of the year. Peck, Big Dave and Will give their grades for Buzelis’s season, discuss how high his ceiling is and what parts of his game need development. Plus, the guys react to Josh Giddey receiving some votes for Most Improved Player and review the NBA Playoffs action from Wednesday night.

The CHGO Bulls crew continue their Player Evaluations for the 2024-25 season with Nikola Vucevic. Perhaps motivated by a potential in-season trade, Vucevic played lights out basketball from the jump. He shot a career-best 40.2% behind the arc, and had his highest points per game average since the 2020-21 season. Despite several trade rumors, he finished the year with the Bulls and overcame a mini-slump after the trade deadline. Peck, Big Dave and Will give their grades for Vooch’s season, and discuss what his future holds with one year left on his current contract. Plus, the guys review the NBA Playoffs action from Tuesday night.

The CHGO Bulls crew continue their Player Evaluations for the 2024-25 season with Josh Giddey. In his first season with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey recovered from a slow start and uncertain role to thrive as the engine of the team’s offense after the All Star break. He also showed signs of promise amidst the usual examples of his vulnerable defense. Peck, Big Dave and Will give their grades for Giddey’s season, and discuss what his overall performance means for offseason contract negotiations. Plus, the guys review the NBA Playoffs action from Monday night.

The CHGO Bulls crew begin their Player Evaluations for the 2024-25 season with Coby White. Following a breakout fifth season that saw him finish 2nd in Most Improved Player voting, Coby made more improvements in his scoring and efficiency in year six. And wow, that month of March! Peck, Big Dave and Will give their grades for Coby’s season, and discuss his remaining potential for improvements and elevation to star-level player in the NBA. Plus, the guys review the NBA Playoffs action from over the weekend.

The CHGO Bulls crew discuss Lonzo Ball's recent NBA contract extension with the Chicago Bulls at the NBA trade deadline. Did the Arturas Karnisovas and the Bulls make a mistake in re-signing the injury-prone point guard?

On this episode, the CHGO Bulls Crew breakdown a big night of action in the NBA Playoffs and recap their time at the CHGO Bears Draft Party Night 1. Also, we do e into the Bulls Free Agency off season. Who is under contract with the team, what players are restricted and unrestricted free agents and who is picking up their player option. Plus, we go over some free agent targets the Bulls should be looking at. Is Jonathan Kuminga on their radar? Can they afford him? What would be his role with the team? All this and more on the CHGO Bulls Podcast

The CHGO Bulls crew answer mailbag questions from the CHGO Diehards Discord, including what the dismissal of Peter Patton says about the organization. Patton, who earned big credit for his work as the Chicago Bulls head of player development over the past couple seasons, did not have his contract option picked up for next year. Joe Cowley reported that it was partly because he voiced unwanted opinions to those in charge. Is this the sign of a toxic power structure and team? Other mailbag questions include the future of Tre Jones, and whether Bulls fans are perhaps too “friendly towards rebuilds.”

The CHGO Bulls crew discuss the latest reports and rumors surrounding the Nikola Vucevic trade market for the Chicago Bulls this offseason. Joe Cowley reported that the team still plans to try to move their veteran center, who’s entering the final year of his contract. Despite lots of smoke nearing the trade deadline this season, the Bulls held onto Vucevic. Other than a brief late-season slump, the two-time All Star had one of the best seasons of his career. Could the Warriors still be interested? What about the Lakers or Spurs? Peck, Big Dave and Will Gottlieb break down all the potential trade destinations.