NBA Notes: Bulls, Matas Buzelis, Knicks, Landry Shamet, Pacers

Bulls

The Bulls have flexibility. Now they need direction.

As noted by Keith Smith of Spotrac, Matas Buzelis may be the only young piece locked into the long-term picture. That leaves a lot of room to reshape the roster.

One path is using cap space to absorb unwanted deals attached to better assets. Not flashy. Often effective.

Chasing restricted free agents is trickier. Offer sheets can get matched. A sign-and-trade might be the cleaner route.

Either way, the Bulls have work to do.

Knicks

The Knicks are getting OG Anunoby back. That likely squeezes Landry Shamet out again.

Shamet barely played early in the postseason. Then Anunoby went down and the door opened. He took advantage.

Twenty-seven points on 9-of-13 shooting across Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. Real minutes. Real impact.

“Landry hadn’t played a drop all playoffs,” coach Mike Brown said, via Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “He was huge on both ends.”

Still, the rotation is crowded. Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado are ahead of him. Anunoby’s return tightens it even more.

Shamet gave them something to think about. That may be enough to keep him in the mix.

Pacers

Indiana addressed its center spot aggressively. Maybe too aggressively.

The Pacers sent out a package that included what became the No. 5 pick for Ivica Zubac. The move helped in the moment. The long view is less certain, writes Jay King of The Athletic.

They reached the Finals in 2025. That doesn’t guarantee a return trip.

A lot hinges on Tyrese Haliburton coming back from an Achilles tear. That’s one of the toughest recoveries in the game.

The urgency made sense then. The risk is clearer now.