Even with back-to-back losses to begin November, the Chicago Bulls are off to a relatively surprising 3-4 start. With the clear caveat that it's early in the season, that record puts them in the same grouping as Eastern Conference contenders like the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.
But still, the most talked-about news to come out of the United Center in recent days has been the organization's decision to send rookie Matas Buzelis, the 11th pick in the 2024 draft, to the G League.
Despite the uneasiness it may cause fans, a rookie landing in the G League to play and develop isn't uncommon and isn't a worst-case scenario. It's concerning, especially considering how good Buzelis looked in summer league and the preseason, but the sky isn't falling in Chicago.
The knee-jerk reaction might be to blame the Bulls; why aren't they letting their prized lottery pick earn his stripes at the NBA level? To some extent, that's true.
But Buzelis has not played well during the regular-season minutes he has gotten. G League-bound or not, that's beginning to be worrisome.
Matas Buzelis has had a disappointing start to his NBA rookie season
Yes, Buzelis was almost immediately recalled to the Bulls and played 4 minutes and 19 seconds in a loss to the Utah Jazz. But that came after a DNP-coach's decision in a game against the Brooklyn Nets three nights earlier.
Plenty of players, rookies especially, are shuttled back and forth between the G League and the NBA. They see game action with the team's G League affiliate then practice and perhaps play a few minutes with the pro squad and repeat the process. It appears that will be the case with Buzelis.
Regardless, the former Ignite star has averages of 0.8 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists on shooting splits of 17/0/50 in 5.3 minutes per game at the NBA level.
He has yet to hit his first 3-pointer and has connected on just two total field goal attempts.
Whether or not the Bulls are messing with his development doesn't matter much if that's how he's playing. It doesn't do anyone any good.
In an unheralded rookie class, Buzelis ranks 46th in scoring, 39th in rebounding and 46th in field goal percentage among all debutants who average at least five minutes per game.
Those aren't great numbers for the 11th overall pick and one who was somewhere in the Rookie of the Year Award conversation before the season started.
The Bulls are playing better than most expected. Coby White has been inconsistent but is showing he's taken another step as a potential franchise scorer. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are raising their trade value. Ayo Dosunmu has been fantastic off the bench since Lonzo Ball went down.
But as Chicago enters what is presumably a rebuild, the fact that its most recent lottery pick can't get on the floor - and looks lost and completely overwhelmed when he does - is troubling, even through the first few weeks of the season.