Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis finding playing time hard to come by so far

Rookie forward Matas Buzelis has played some meaningful minutes in the Bulls’ first three games, just not a lot.

In their season-opening loss Wednesday to the Pelicans, Buzelis played just less than three minutes in the first half and another two in the fourth quarter.

In their victory Friday against the Bucks, he played almost eight minutes in the first half but just more than a minute in the fourth quarter, when the game was still in question.

Then in their blowout loss Saturday to the Thunder, he logged less than three minutes in the first half before getting mop-up time in the fourth quarter.

Does Buzelis’ playing time — or lack of it — signify development or growing pains? Likely something in between.

Coach Billy Donovan knew during training camp that he had to find playing time for Buzelis, but he also has a deep rotation, leaving him a tough needle to thread. It’s also an example of the fine line the organization has been trying to navigate since making offseason roster changes.

Are the Bulls trying to compete or trying to develop young talent? If it was up to executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, it would be both, but that is almost an impossibility in the NBA.

So what’s the best way to proceed with Buzelis early in the season?

‘‘With the number of guys we have there at that [forward] position, I want to help Matas develop and grow, but I also want to make sure there’s groups out there that will function together,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘So for us, I think it’s still a work in progress with some of the rotations.’’

That leaves Buzelis, the No. 11 pick in the draft in June, in a holding pattern. Through games of Saturday, Buzelis was averaging 1.7 points (27th in the league among rookies) and 6.9 minutes (24th).

And while this was considered a weak class, especially given what’s coming next June, Buzelis still was thought to be a top-five talent who just happened to slide down to the Bulls. He was seen no differently than the Lakers’ Dalton Knecht, who has been showing some real promise as an outside shooter, or the Wizards’ Carlton Carrington, who leads all rookies in minutes so far.

Ideally, what Donovan is trying to accomplish — which no one with the Bulls would admit — is to make sure Buzelis gets his feet wet in these early-season games while the team showcases what it hopes will be trade assets in Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball.

If the Bulls can trade any of those players and perhaps even package a player on an expiring contract, such as Torrey Craig or Jevon Carter, then that should clear more minutes for Buzelis.

That’s a big if.

So what can the Bulls do with Buzelis until they’re a little deeper into the season? Perhaps get him some time with the Windy City Bulls of the G League.

‘‘I think we’re going to need a lot of players, just because of the way we’re trying to play,’’ Donovan said, referring to the Bulls’ faster offense. ‘‘We’ve got to find ways to get him in there when we can, so he can get something out of it.

‘‘Now, is it a situation where the G League is an option? Absolutely. He likes to play, and he’s been open-minded to do whatever he’s got to do to develop.’’

Buzelis didn’t dispute that — at least to a point.

‘‘If I go down there, it’s not my goal to be down there,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m going to work my way up to the big team and try to get minutes on the Bulls’ roster. But if I have to go down there, I don’t take it as disrespect. I’m there to learn and advance as a human and a basketball player.’’