The Bulls have exercised the fourth-year option on Matas Buzelis’ rookie scale contract and the third-year option on Noa Essengue’s rookie scale deal, the team announced today in a press release. Both options are for the 2027/28 season.

Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has emerged as a crucial long-term building block in Chicago, having averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game last season. The 6’8″ forward started all 77 games he played in his second year in the NBA, registering a shooting line of .463/.349/.786.

The fourth-year ’27/28 option for Buzelis, who will make approximately $5.72MM this season, is worth roughly $7.58MM. The Bulls’ next decision on the 22-year-old will be made during the 2027 offseason, when the team will have to determine whether to sign him to a rookie scale extension.

Essengue, the 12th pick in the 2025 draft, missed nearly his entire rookie season due to left shoulder surgery. The 19-year-old Frenchman logged just six minutes in two outings in November before his season came to a premature end.

Essengue was benched during Summer League in July for not playing with the aggressiveness and effort that new head coach Tiago Splitter wanted to see, but Splitter was reportedly more encouraged by the forward’s effort during the preseason.

Essengue will earn about $5.7MM in his second NBA season and is now assured of receiving his full $5.97MM salary in 2027/28. The Bulls will have to decide at this time next year whether or not to pick up his $8.23MM team option for ’28/29.

We’re tracking all of the ’27/28 rookie scale team option decisions right here. They’re due by November 2.