Chicago Bulls rookie to play over struggling starter: Insider

The Chicago Bulls are amid a tailspin which is sending them into a possible rebuild.

With the trade deadline fast approaching the Bulls roster could look completely different in the next few weeks.

During the Bull’s recent struggles their starting power forward Patrick Williams has also fallen on hard times with being nowhere to be seen for the Bulls offensively all month.

Before the Bulls game against the Denver Nuggets Monday head coach Billy Donovan made some changes to the Bulls starting lineup.

Patrick Williams out of the Chicago Bulls lineup

Before the Bull’s games against the fourth-place Denver Nuggets head coach Billy Donovan decided to remove Williams from the starting lineup per Bulls insider K.C. Johnson.

“Patrick Williams not starting“

Patrick Williams not starting https://t.co/vFDY84riNe

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 28, 2025

Johnson also added that instead of Williams Bulls rookie sensation Matas Buzelis will be the 6th man in tonight’s ballgame.

”Matas Buzelis is 6th man ahead of Patrick Williams“

Matas Buzelis is 6th man ahead of Patrick Williams

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 28, 2025

“Patrick Williams removal as starter is significant for many reasons but here are 2: Previously, Billy Donovan has cited matchups/defense as reason PWil started. Bulls are starting 4 guards against a 6-10 power forward in Michael Porter Jr. Plus, 2 are on minutes limit in Ayo/Ball”

Patrick Williams removal as starter is significant for many reasons but here are 2: Previously, Billy Donovan has cited matchups/defense as reason PWil started. Bulls are starting 4 guards against a 6-10 power forward in Michael Porter Jr. Plus, 2 are on minutes limit in Ayo/Ball

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 28, 2025

The former first-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft has not had the best month with so far virtually being nowhere to be seen in the Bulls offense. In 13 games played this month, Williams has averaged 25.7 minutes, 7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while only shooting 31.7% from the floor and a terrible 28.8% from three.

Williams’s season averages are no better averaging 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 26.6 minutes played and in 35 games started. Williams’s poor play hasn’t gone unnoticed with head coach Billy Donovan feeling that Williams is doing too much and is being overly aggressive which is leading to poor play as of late. 

Buzeli finally getting more minutes 

Fans have been clamoring for the 20-year-old rookie to get more minutes while leading the team in blocks and being second in dunks with only averaging a little over 12 minutes a game. Buzelis is having a respectable rookie campaign playing in 42 games for the Bulls averaging 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, .4 assists, and shooting 37.6% from the field.

With Willaims struggling the way he has been and Buzelis having success a change needed to be made to get back to winning ballgames. Having Buzeli get more experience as the Bull’s 6th man should do wonders for his development and means that the Bulls are finally embracing allowing the rookie to play to see what he can do on the court. 

Hopefully, this is the case moving forward

Hopefully, this lineup moving forward can give the Bulls more success and get them back on the winning track. 

With Buzelis now getting more minutes it should be exciting to see how he handles the pressure and how he can respond to it. 

Having Buzelis succeed in this new role will be key for the Bulls to have success with the Bulls stating Buzelis is ‘untouchable’ in trade talks and someone they want to build around.