It’s not an easy task to pinpoint the Chicago Bulls’ direction. Are they contending? Or are they content losing games to retain their draft pick? We don’t really know, and more than likely, the Bulls’ front office doesn’t even know. We might have to wait until the February trade deadline for a solidified direction to be undertaken.

There’s an argument to be made that the Bulls are more than a play-in team in the Eastern Conference. Chicago is just two games back from the sixth-seeded Miami Heat. However, if things start looking bleak as the season wears on, expect Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic to be traded before the deadline.

Regardless of whether the Bulls hold onto their best players for much longer, there are several players in need of more playing time to help Chicago in the present and the future. The Bulls have trotted out 17 players this season, and we’ve identified three who need to see the court on an extended basis.

3. E.J. Liddell

23-year-old forward E.J. Liddell has appeared in only five games this season. Liddell has averaged 2.6 points, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor in his five appearances. His best two performances came over the past week. In only five minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies, Liddell dropped six points, converting two of three triples. Then, against the Orlando Magic, Liddell scored five points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out two assists in 17 minutes of action.

Although he hasn’t been granted a long leash in the professional ranks, the Ohio State product has impressed in the G-League. Liddell has averaged 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game. He’s also shot the ball efficiently, cashing in on 49.1 percent of his field goals and 50.0 percent of his three-pointers.

Where Liddell would make most of an impact is on defense. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, he’s strong enough to defend power forwards and nimble enough to defend small forwards and even some shooting guards. The Bulls lack two-way forwards, especially without Patrick Williams in the lineup, and Liddell could fill that void.

2. Lonzo Ball

Next up is former second-overall pick Lonzo Ball. While Ball’s inclusion may be somewhat of a cop-out, he needs to see more minutes as he gets back up to speed. The reason behind Lonzo’s limited action is his injury history. Prior to Chicago’s season opener, Ball last appeared in an NBA game on January 14, 2022.

After just three appearances this season, Ball suffered a wrist sprain, forcing the 6-foot-6 guard to miss nearly a month of action. Fortunately, Ball has returned to the lineup. In his first game back, he recorded a plus/minus of plus-7 despite a 14-point loss and added six points, three assists, and four steals.

Ball’s importance to the Bulls can be traced back to 2022 when Chicago ranked first in the Eastern Conference by January. Following Ball’s knee injury, the Bulls dropped to sixth in the standings by the end of the season. Upon returning to the court, Ball leads the Bulls in net rating. He’s only appeared in four games, but he’s recorded a positive plus/minus in all four appearances and provides Chicago with its only versatile backcourt defender.

1. Matas Buzelis

While Lonzo was an obvious choice because of his minute restriction, Matas Buzelis is another easy choice, but not because of a cap on his playing time. As the 11th overall pick from the G-League Ignite, it was expected for Buzelis to ramp up before assuming a full-time role. After seeing single-digit minutes for all of October and some of November, Buzelis has played at least 17 minutes for four consecutive games.

Buzelis has averaged 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in his last four appearances. He’s appeared confident and become known for throwing down rim-rattling jams at least once per contest. Although he hasn’t shot the ball well from beyond the arc as of late, Buzelis has converted on two or more triples at above a 65 percent clip on three separate occasions this season.

Like Liddell, Buzelis fits perfectly in Chicago’s guard-heavy lineup. At 6-foot-10, he’s a picturesque fit as a power forward. However, at 210 pounds, with a guard-like ability to put the ball on the floor, Buzelis is closer to a small forward. No matter his positioning, we will likely see the rookie in the starting lineup sooner rather than later. Buzelis’ inclusion in the opening unit could come as early as this week, chiefly if Williams continues to miss time.