The Bykov used the fourth year option Matas Bouzelis“rookie contract and third-year option Noah Essengrookie scale deal, team announced today in a press release. Both options for the 2027/28 season.
Buselis, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has been an important long-term building block in Chicago, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game last season. The 6-foot-8 forward started all 77 games he played in his second year in the NBA, registering a .463/.349/.786 line.
The ’27/28 fourth-year option for Bouzelis, who will make around $5.72M this season, is worth about $7.58M. The Bulls’ next decision on the 22-year-old will come in the 2027 offseason, when the team will have to decide whether to extend him to a rookie contract.
Esenge, the 12th overall pick in the 2025 draft, missed most of his rookie season with left shoulder surgery. The 19-year-old Frenchman registered just six minutes in two outings in November before his season came to an untimely end.
Esengue was a bench during Summer League in July for not playing with the same aggressiveness and effort as the new head coach Tiago Splitter wanted to see, but Splitter was according to reports more encouraged by the forward’s efforts during the preseason.
Esenge will make around $5.7 million in his second NBA season, and is now guaranteed a full salary of $5.97 million for the 2027-28 season. At this time next year, the Bulls will have to decide whether to exercise his $8.23 million team option for 28/29.
We’re keeping track of all the ’27/28 rookie squad selection decisions right here. They must be handed in by November 2.