2024 NBA Draft - Chicago Bulls select Matas Buzelis with the 11th pick

[Chi town]

New SF replacement for Demar??

Him and Pat.

Think Giddey will play there too.

Giddey Zach Coby Pat Ayo Matas.

That’s modern basketball. Need Giddey and Matas to develop their 3.

Need a defensive C

[HoopsterJones]

#11 was a good spot to go for a boom or bust pick here. Buzelis was a projected top 5 pick so let’s hope he can develop into a quality player.

[MGB8]

I doubt that he starts this year. Power in the NBA is going to be a bigger problem for him than power in the G-league, and doesn’t look like he has the speed to consistently guard on the wing.

Like I wrote in another post, to me he looks like a more athletic but far rawer Deni Avdija type. Similar size, similar combo forward position. Deni was NBA solid built coming in, but still struggled a bit. This kid is bouncier but not as developed skill wise or physically. My guess is that this kid is fairly limited as a bench player year 1… but maybe that signals a turn towards a true rebuild.

[GoBlue72391]

He's 6'10 not 6'8

lol

Measured: 6′ 8.75” barefoot, 197 lbs, 6′ 10.00” wingspan, 8′ 9.50” standing reach, 31 standing vert, 38 max vert at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine …

They play basketball in shoes, which generally adds 1 to 1.25 inches.

[Jcool0]

He's 6'10 not 6'8

lol

Measured: 6′ 8.75” barefoot, 197 lbs, 6′ 10.00” wingspan, 8′ 9.50” standing reach, 31 standing vert, 38 max vert at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine …

They play basketball in shoes, which generally adds 1 to 1.25 inches.

They do? Who knew....

[Muzbar]

Our new backup C!

Lol he's 6'8"

He was measured 6'8.75" without shoes, he's 6'9" at worse IN shoes, probably 6'10" though.

[GoBlue72391]

Measured: 6′ 8.75” barefoot, 197 lbs, 6′ 10.00” wingspan, 8′ 9.50” standing reach, 31 standing vert, 38 max vert at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine …

They play basketball in shoes, which generally adds 1 to 1.25 inches.

They do? Who knew....

I know, right? Crazy.

[Chi town]

This guy is our 4 of the future. Might not do a ton next year, but should be a special player. As talented as anyone I've watched in the draft.

If he fills in and adds 20lbs of muscle he’s a 4.

Him and Dalen need to get on a gains program.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

White/Giddey/Buzelis

I like this young core ALOT

[Rose2Boozer]

AK **** the bed as usual.

[WindyCityBorn]

Draft grade A for me.

[WindyCityBorn]

AK **** the bed as usual.

You are in the minority with that opinion.

[League Circles]

If the season started tomorrow he's probably our starting 4:

5: Vuc
4: Buzelis, Phillips
3: Giddey, Terry
2: Zach, Ayo, Bitim
1: Coby, Carter, Ball

Giddey plays PG or it was a waste of a trade.

There's a 0% chance that Giddey plays "PG". He'll play "point-forward". Coby would be the secondary ball handler here, with Buzelis and Zach the primary finishers in theory in terms of skill set.

[TheSuzerain]

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White/Giddey/Buzelis

I like this young core ALOT

If that's the core, we're picking top 3 next season.

Which I'm completely ok with.

[League Circles]

Most talented Bulls draftee since Derrick Rose, no doubt.

[GoBlue72391]

If the season started tomorrow he's probably our starting 4:

5: Vuc
4: Buzelis, Phillips
3: Giddey, Terry
2: Zach, Ayo, Bitim
1: Coby, Carter, Ball

Giddey plays PG or it was a waste of a trade.

There's a 0% chance that Giddey plays "PG". He'll play "point-forward". Coby would be the secondary ball handler here, with Buzelis and Zach the primary finishers in theory in terms of skill set.

Oh, so we're just arguing semantics then. I don't really care what label you put on him, as long as he's the main guy with the ball in his hands and initiating the offense. To me that's the PG, you do you.

[HoopsterJones]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

White/Giddey/Buzelis

I like this young core ALOT

If that's the core, we're picking top 3 next season.

Which I'm completely ok with.

I’m totally down with adding Cooper Flagg to the core.

[kodo]

Givony:

Matas Buzelis is peaking at the right time

After missing the first three months of the G League season with ankle injuries, Buzelis was slow out of the gates but has been playing his best basketball of late. He's shooting 39% from 3 over his past 10 games, has transformed himself from being a poor defender to being extremely impactful on and off the ball, and is soaking up increased usage successfully with ball-dominant Ron Holland now sidelined for the season with a thumb injury.

Buzelis was on a major platform this past weekend at the Rising Stars game, where he was able to match up with Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, Charlotte's Brandon Miller and many other of the NBA's most talented young players. He showed his passing creativity, shot-making prowess, defensive playmaking instincts and all-around aggressiveness attacking opponents consistently -- even hitting a game-winning turnaround jumper to advance to the championship game.

Being able to showcase his tremendous size, improving frame and intriguing versatility on both ends of the floor was a major opportunity for Buzelis, something that will likely stick with the many NBA executives in attendance ahead of the pre-draft process.
Having weighed 185 pounds exactly a year ago, Buzelis is now at 205, which has unlocked some added explosiveness and an ability to initiate and play through contact more effectively on both ends of the floor. Buzelis is always looming as a weakside rim-protector and is doing a much better job of getting in a low stance, turning his hips and sliding his feet on the perimeter, staying down on fakes and showing impressive instincts staying attached to opponents.

His shot-creation prowess is something teams want to see him continue to make strides with, as he's been somewhat of a mixed bag operating out of pick-and-roll and in isolation, not always able to beat defenders cleanly off the bounce and finish what he creates, due to his lack of strength. Buzelis' jumper has been streaky -- he's 22-for-84 from 3 in 26 games -- but has been on an upward trajectory, showing clean mechanics, a high release and confidence with his shot-making prowess, something teams will be studying closely in the pre-draft process.

Buzelis was the original No. 1 prospect in our very first mock draft released one year ago, and he's putting himself back in that conversation with the way he's playing of late. He's got several more weeks to continue building momentum before his season comes to a close. He should continue to benefit from being a top offensive option for Ignite with Holland out. -- Jonathan Givony

[Brothaman33]

I like the pick. He'll need some time but I like his upside and he has some interesting traits.

[DASMACKDOWN]

This will be the first time I actually believe AK when he ultimately says Matas was someone he wanted and was surprising he dropped to us.