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

[Red8911]

Really liked how Matas was legit happy that he was drafted by the Bulls. I would imagine that’s how any of us would react if our team the bulls chose us.

That was great and all but once games begin he will be judged like anyone else wearing a bulls uniform. I have no opinion of him and not going to act like I know or watched his games but hopefully it works out. We need to catch a break for once and get lucky.

My concern is did AK actually like him as a basketball player or did he choose him because he’s from Chicago/Lithuania and the fact that he was projected to be a top 5 pick ? AK didn’t have much to say about him in the presser which was weird.

Whatever the case is doesn’t matter I’ll be rooting for this guy to succeed regardless.Just hope it’s not a bust.

Someone here compared him to Kirilenko, based on his highlights I could definitely see that. Also the knock that he’s too skinny is not always a bad thing, he can use that to his advantage as well. Maybe just add muscle, doesn’t necessarily need to bulk up.

[Muzbar]

Really liked how Matas was legit happy that he was drafted by the Bulls. I would imagine that’s how any of us would react if our team the bulls chose us.

That was great and all but once games begin he will be judged like anyone else wearing a bulls uniform. I have no opinion of him not going to act like I know his game but hopefully it works out. We need to catch a break for once and get lucky.

My concern is did AK actually like him as a basketball player or did he choose him because he’s from Chicago/Lithuania and the fact that he was projected to be a top 5 pick ? AK didn’t have much to say about him in the presser which was weird.

Whatever the case is doesn’t matter I’ll be rooting for this guy to succeed regardless.Just hope it’s not a bust. Someone here compared him to Kirilenko, based on his highlights I could see that. Also the knock that he’s too skinny is not always a bad thing he can use that to his advantage as well. Maybe just add muscle doesn’t necessarily need to bulk up.

There were rumors that the Bulls were looking to trade up for him, so they clearly liked him as a prospect, being Lithuanian and from Chicago is an added bonus.

I'm excited to see Matas play and watch him grow, I think he's going to be very good.

[madvillian]

Gotta get those lenses corrected my friend.

Sent from my SM-S928U using RealGM mobile app

I watched about an hour of video on him last night. I'm still not seeing it. I see a guy who has nice bounce but that struggles with contact and is not a guy that is going to explode off one foot and throw it down over a 7 footer too often.

I watched some young Paul Geroge as well. Now that is an explosive guy at 6-8. We should reserve the term "explosive" for more than just a guy that can cock back a two footed two handed dunk once and awhile.

of course some reports said Williams was explosive as well. People just have different definitions.

All that said, after watching all that video, I'm more excited than prior. He has a lot of tools in his arsenal. Get 20lbs of muscle on him in a few years and improve his shot and we'll have a great player.

Stop comparing him so much to wings. He has some plays where he looks wing-ish, but - at least to me - he very much looks like a Avdija or AK-47 or Julian Phillips or Jalen McDaniels type combo forward, and more 4 than 3 - just massively underweight right now.

Comparing him to a Paul George or whatnot is apples to oranges. He is bouncy and can get up, and seems to be a relatively quick jumper, but we aren't going to see MJ like jumps nor that kind of on ball first step explosion, either.

There were a couple plays were I thought he played a bit like Sengun. It will be interesting to see how he develops with more weight. I'm very excited with him as a prospect regardless of quibbles about this and that with him.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Right now he weighs 209

Where are you seeing this?

Forget. One of the draft update interviews.

I’m listening to a Ringer interview from June 5 in which he says he’s 205. I’ll take it.

[Jcool0]

Where are you seeing this?

Forget. One of the draft update interviews.

I’m listening to a Ringer interview from June 5 in which he says he’s 205. I’ll take it.

He was 197 at the combine.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

Forget. One of the draft update interviews.

I’m listening to a Ringer interview from June 5 in which he says he’s 205. I’ll take it.

He was 197 at the combine.

I know, that’s why I asked where the 209 came from.

[Jstock12]

I've heard multiple well known reputable analysts/scouts say that the poor 3PT shooting in the G-League (however limited that sample size is) was basically the only reason why Matas was out of the contention for the #1 overall pick. I personally think his percentages will come around eventually. He has a scorer's mentality/confidence and the shooting form looks sound. Drafting Buzelis at top3 might have been questionable, but at #11 he's one of the best value picks in the entire draft.

[cruwinas]

2 years ago Matas looked superb. General consensus was that "If someone wants to build a perfect SF in the lab - that's Matas for you".
If 2024 draft was held a year ago, with the same players, I never saw Matas lower than #4 pick. Year ago everybody evaluated him between #1 and #3 (depending on the teams drafting).
This year I never even imagined him dropping bellow #8. #5 - #6 pick had highest percentages. Remember how "happy" Knicks fans were on drafting day when they got Porzingis? Right No, I don't expect Matas to change everyone's perception of him like Kristaps did.
What happened last season with the Ignite? Ignite sucked badly. Matas had problems with the ankle, missed couple months. Why teams perform poorly? Head coach, roster, woo-doo...Usually it's all of the above. Matas is not a guard, nor Jokic or Sabonis. He doesn't initiate offense. On a crappy team, not in a perfect physical shape himself, to play against other crappy teams - not a happy story. I pay zero attention and importance to his stats. I was just surprised a bit.
From Matas perspective it doesn't matter much that he was picked only as #11. He had bad last season for himself - that's the outcome. For Bulls? Bulls had no chance to get him if current draft was held a year ago. Bulls got a guy who can handle the ball. Very tall and very long for his SF position. Matas is very quick, has bbal in his blood. Good IQ. Matas will not crash and burn. At least, he will be a reliable rotational guy for many years who plays 20+ minutes efficiently. I can easily see Matas as an All-Star too. He has all necessary ingredients. The time now came for Matas to get serious and for fans to wait.

[Repeat 3-peat]

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[Axl Rose]

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I guessing someone got in his ear about jersey sales I thought he would take 13 now that it's likely available (Torrey prob switches to 3) but i guess he wants to show some respect to Noah and/or not be compared.

MB14 has a little ring to it.

[Muzbar]

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I think that suits him better, I didn't dislike 00 though.

[Bandit King]

Bulls got a decent player but will Billy play him???

Also make sure he don't become friends with giddey!

[Dez]

Bulls got a decent player but will Billy play him???

Also make sure he don't become friends with giddey!

What even is this garbage?

[Bulliever2020]

Bulls got a decent player but will Billy play him???

Also make sure he don't become friends with giddey!

What even is this garbage?

deserves a strike or some kind of warning tbh

[Muzbar]

Bulls got a decent player but will Billy play him???

Also make sure he don't become friends with giddey!

What even is this garbage?

BK has never been one for constructive conversation. Just one liner quips that are 'funny'.

Best just to ignore.

[coldfish]

Bulls got a decent player but will Billy play him???

Also make sure he don't become friends with giddey!

Wut?

I've seen some people asking if Matas would play. This is the organization that force fed Pat minutes for years now. Of course he will play if he is anything better than a Dalen Terry level stiff.

[kulaz3000]

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It's only a number, and though I didn't really care for the look of 00, it didn't offend me either. But number 14 looks much better!

[Jcool0]

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[Muzbar]

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Dunk comp participant?

[Repeat 3-peat]

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