Bulls may have found gem in former 12th overall pick

Buzelis has more star potential than anyone on the Bulls roster

Buzelis is intriguing because he combines size and skill. He's a 6-foot-10 forward who shot 36.1 percent on three-pointers last season, but who also gets to the rim. Despite playing 18.9 minutes per game, Buzelis racked up 65 dunks, taking over 30 percent of his shots within three feet of the rim and shooting 63.3 percent.

He's a passable defender already, a rarity for a player who still can't legally buy a drink until Oct. 13 — his 21st birthday. All that means Buzelis is locked in as the team's starting power forward and should get 30 minutes per game and plenty of touches on offense, especially with top scorer Coby White banged up already.

The Bulls find themselves in a peculiar position. They only have long-term commitments to Josh Giddey and disappointing forward Patrick Williams. The Bulls have a chance at massive cap space next summer, although they're likely to extend White's contract.

Suppose Buzelis can emerge as a genuine scoring threat; that makes the Bulls' upcoming roster decisions much easier, especially since Buzelis should be able to play either forward spot. Chicago has shown no willingness to tank for a better draft pick, so finding a star requires a trade, a likely free-agent overpay, or getting lucky at the back of the lottery.

It's only been one game, but Buzelis was scoring at will at Summer League in July.

After years of being mired in mediocrity, Buzelis gives the Bulls a chance to go from play-in to playoff contender in the near future. For a team that often feels directionless, this Chicago native represents a tantalizing path to NBA relevancy for the Bulls.