2024 Prospect Spotlight: Matas Buzelis

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[tbhawksfan1]

the question for him will be if he can play the 3 and can he shoot the 3

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Matas Buzelis | 6-10 wing/forward | 19 years old | G League Ignite

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Buzelis has been a beneficiary of multiple factors each occurring at once in this class. First, his size, off-ball capabilities and athleticism with the ball in transition make him a high-upside swing in a draft class doesn’t have many of them. Second, bigger wings with similar profiles like Charlotte’s Miller, Memphis’ G.G. Jackson, Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly and Houston’s Whitmore have put together promising rookie seasons while displaying skills they didn’t consistently showcase in their pre-draft seasons.

Those four are positive indicators because Buzelis has not had an ideal pre-draft campaign, especially early. He’s averaging 13.7 points while shooting 45.6 percent from the field in the G League, including a disappointing 26.9 percent mark from 3. However, over his last 11 games, he’s upped those numbers to 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, one steal and an awesome 2.5 blocks per game. He also won some plaudits from scouts for his play at the Rising Stars event at All-Star Weekend, where he helped the G League team upset a roster of NBA rookies and sophomores that included Wembanyama.

There are certainly questions even after his in-season improvement, and shooting is the one that comes up the most. Buzelis shot the ball well the season before at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas but hasn’t been consistent during his youth career. While Buzelis has been able to fit into an offensive role with G League Ignite instead of pressing the issue, scouts would like to learn more about his ability to create on his own. Additionally, while Buzelis’ off-ball defense has largely won over scouts, he has struggled on the ball this season in large part due to a lack of strength.

...this mock draft is based on feedback I get from scouts, and many are willing to give Buzelis the benefit of the doubt for the G League Ignite’s struggles. I think Buzelis’ range honestly starts at No. 1 if he has a strong pre-draft process and could extend down to No. 7 or below.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

Man, IDK what the coaching staff did to break Matas. He had a reputation as a knockdown shooter coming into the season. This shot chart is just atrocious!!

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Matas Buzelis Scouting Report

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Age: 19
Position: SF
Size: 6'8", 209 lbs
Draft ceiling: Top 5
Draft floor: Late Lottery

Despite the G League Ignite's disappointing record, NBA scouts are still acknowledging why Matas Buzelis was viewed as a No. 1 overall candidate entering the season.

While he's no longer part of that conversation, not much has changed regarding his easy-to-picture fit and the appeal of his particular body type and skill set.

An ankle injury also cost Buzelis valuable minutes early in the season, delaying the time it took for his comfort level and confidence to rise. Inconsistency is one of the big reasons scouts aren't as trusting in him, while positional size, scoring versatility and athleticism provide traits that have kept evaluators patient.

NBA Role and Pro Comparisons

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Projected role: Jumbo wing scorer/handler

Pro comparions: Franz Wagner, Lamar Odom, Hedo Turkoglu, Tony Kukoc

At 6'8", Buzelis will continue to play on and off the ball with his ability to initiate fast breaks, create in space and catch-and-shoot. He hasn't shown enough ball-handling to be used as a top option, but he can make plays for himself and others as a secondary weapon off spot-ups and dribble handoffs.

In the short term, he'll act as a complementary scorer in the half court.

Ideally, Buzelis' handle and command tighten and he's used more like Wagner or Odom was considering their ability to play some point-wing and run pick-and-rolls. Buzelis was also a better shooter in high school than in the G League, and there is still plenty of optimism that his three-point shot will return to being a plus on the scouting report.

Physical Tools and Athleticism

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At 6'8", Buzelis has plus size and athleticism for a wing player. That athleticism pops most on finishes above the rim and blocked shots when he shows how effortlessly he can elevate.

He lacks upper-body strength, which becomes evident on drives. Physical defense can keep him from getting to spots.

But otherwise, he has bounce and foot speed for defending in space. And adding some bulk over the next few years could turn Buzelis into a positional mismatch given his guard/perimeter skills.

Signature Strengths

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Open-floor scoring/finishing
Dangerous in transition with long strides, coordination and the ability to get right above the rim, Buzelis is also tough in the half court while attacking in space. His handle can be effective when he's not tightly pressured, and he demonstrates advanced footwork off the dribble for getting to spots. At his height, he typically has a finishing advantage on the move when guarded by wings.

Shotmaking versatility
The percentages make it difficult to call Buzelis a shooter, but he's capable of hitting jump shots in a variety of ways. Pull-ups, step-backs, post fallaways and runners are all in his bag. Off the ball, he's a threat from the three-point wings and corners. Consistent execution will take his scoring to a newer, higher level.

On-ball defensive potential
Buzelis wound up putting together an impressive defensive highlight reel, mostly of on-ball sequences sliding his feet and blocking shots. He has the potential to be a difficult one-on-one cover to get clean shots off against.

Areas for Improvement

Spoiler:

Self-creation execution
Buzelis shows some creativity, but he didn't regularly execute moves or shots cleanly. He can be loose with the ball when pressured. And a lack of strength and burst limited how much separation he could get, usually when trying to blow by a defender. Buzelis skeptics don't see a player who's built to be a top option.

Shooting consistency
Shooting needs to be a strength of Buzelis. It was pegged as one when scouts initially thought he could be the No. 1 overall pick back in October. Instead, he shot 26.1 percent from deep, finishing 14 games without making a three.

Aggression/impact
Only 2.0 free-throw attempts in 31.0 minutes per game highlights Buzelis' finesse-heavy style of play. When the Ignite were at full strength, he also played more of a background role. You didn't feel his impact enough when he was on the floor.

It's possible that teams at the top of this draft look at his 6'8" size, shotmaking versatility, open-floor handles, athleticism at the rim—and bet on the archetype and development, instead of putting stock into inconsistency from a small sample size for a 19-year-old in the G League.

Teams could value Buzelis highly if they see both safety tied to his fit and upside in a big, potentially two-way scoring wing.

It's also possible Buzelis is still on the board in the late lottery if enough teams prefer to avoid the possibility of him being too soft against contact, not quick enough to beat defenders or unreliable from three.

Bleacher Report

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It's official.

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[Jamaaliver]

Based on size and positional value, this kid is probably the best fit for us long term.

Matas Buzelis -- G League Ignite -- Lithuania

6'11" | 195 lb | Wing | 20 years old

Connective playmaker with size, shooting, and the ability to play anywhere on the floor.

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Per 36 averages:
16.4ppg | 7.7rpg | 2.3apg | 2.3bpg

Shades of: Lamar Odom

PLUSES

• Versatile offensive player who can be used in any scheme because of his high feel as a passer. He isn’t a savant playmaker who will lead an offense, per se, but he’s the type of player who could thrive in a two-man game with other like-minded players.
  
• Boasts upside as a shooter. He’s fluid dribbling into his stepback from both midrange and 3, and he loves utilizing shimmies and ball fakes to create space from midrange. He shot far better from 3 as a high school senior than he has with the Ignite.
  
• Displays soft touch on in-between shots like hooks from the post or floaters. If a defender tries to take a charge, he can stop his dribble on a dime and just flip the ball up.
  
• Savvy player without the ball who communicates with teammates to help the offense flow and always looks for chances to cut. In a motion system, he’d thrive in dribble handoffs either as the person receiving or delivering the ball.
  
• Great transition player. He runs the floor hard, making himself available for kickouts. And since he can handle the ball himself, he’s always a threat to take it coast-to-coast or make a play off a rebound.
  
• Good team defender with a high motor and feel for off-ball help. He frequently logs weakside and chasedown blocks, in addition to altering shots.

MINUSES

• Who is he really as a shooter? Buzelis was a streaky shooter until his final high school season, when he made 43.1 percent of his 3s, hitting a variety of shots off movement with smooth mechanics and a high release. But he’s back below 30 percent during the G League season.
  
• Loosey-goosey ball handler who has a negative assist-to-turnover ratio largely because he often gets stripped or dribbles into trouble. Even if he's not a primary playmaker who runs a heavy dose of pick-and-rolls, he needs to improve his handle.
  
• Finishing at the rim needs a lot of work. He shies away from his off hand, he struggles against contact, and he isn’t explosive without space to launch. There are times when he tries turning the corner on drives but he can’t dislodge his defender when driving due a lack of muscle.
  
• Subpar defender containing dribble penetration. He isn’t switchable against quicker players and he has a hard time fighting through screens.
  
• Needs to get significantly stronger, but he has a lanky frame. How much weight can he actually put on?

The Ringer