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

[Dominator83]

He's gonna be a star. I'm calling it now. Bulls best since Michael.

Is that you Fred?!

I doubt he'll be better than Butler. Butler was a two way stud, and of course after we move him he leads a team to the finals twice! But even here he was a legit #1. I rate him higher than Rose because A) he was way better as a two way player and B) wasn't cut short by injuries.

But even though he probably won't top Jimmy, i too am excited about Matas and todays game if anything only added to that. His biggest weakness is that long range shot. But he has alot of skills that will only get better and refined over the years. 2-3 years from now I think he goes top 3 in a redraft, maybe even #1

[kodo]

He really doesn't seem to have the desire to be the alpha dog like Butler always did. From his interview with KC he doesn't care how many points he scores or how many boards or 3s, he just wants to make plays that help the team win. I'm not sure if there's such a thing as an aggressive glue guy, but Buzelis might be it. The Kirilenko comps still seem the most accurate, last guy I remember who had star talent but very focused on doing a bit of everything.

[nomorezorro]

based on what i've seen so far, he's got a higher base of both skill and athleticism than i expected based on pre-draft writeups. dude obviously has a ways to go still — including most importantly getting better at the actual act of putting the ball in the hoop — but it's hard not to think there's a lot of potential there.

he doesn't look like the 11th pick in a bad draft to me, which is about all i can ask at the point in the process. imo he looks like the kind of guy who would go mid-lottery in a standard draft. still plenty of bust potential, but he's not just a longshot lottery ticket of a prospect

[StephenAA]

Matas looked good out there. The one thing I kept thinking when watching the game is how good he’ll look playing with Giddey.

*
Exactly! Night and day difference between Giddey and Steward!

I'll say this again, I think the Bulls are gonna surprise a lot of people this coming season with how good they eventually become...

AA

[Jvaughn]

Matas looked good out there. The one thing I kept thinking when watching the game is how good he’ll look playing with Giddey.

*
Exactly! Night and day difference between Giddey and Steward!

I'll say this again, I think the Bulls are gonna surprise a lot of people this coming season with how good they eventually become...

AA

I definitely want to see how Buzelis' game will work with a pass first PG. As long as he's active off ball (unlike Pat) he should get a few easy buckets a game simply off cutting. And bring able to take catch and shoot 3s instead of off the dribble like he did today is going to be a big help as well. Gonna be very interesting to see how our team plays with a pass first PG again. We saw how good we were when Lonzo was healthy.

[Dan Z]

He's gonna be a star. I'm calling it now. Bulls best since Michael.

Is that you Fred?!

I doubt he'll be better than Butler. Butler was a two way stud, and of course after we move him he leads a team to the finals twice! But even here he was a legit #1. I rate him higher than Rose because A) he was way better as a two way player and B) wasn't cut short by injuries.

But even though he probably won't top Jimmy, i too am excited about Matas and todays game if anything only added to that. His biggest weakness is that long range shot. But he has alot of skills that will only get better and refined over the years. 2-3 years from now I think he goes top 3 in a redraft, maybe even #1

With Butler, or any player, I think you have to base the comparison on Bulls Butler, not what he did later.

Best since MJ is a bit much. What about Pippen?

I like Matas potential and agree with you that itll take time.

[Dominator83]

He's gonna be a star. I'm calling it now. Bulls best since Michael.

Is that you Fred?!

I doubt he'll be better than Butler. Butler was a two way stud, and of course after we move him he leads a team to the finals twice! But even here he was a legit #1. I rate him higher than Rose because A) he was way better as a two way player and B) wasn't cut short by injuries.

But even though he probably won't top Jimmy, i too am excited about Matas and todays game if anything only added to that. His biggest weakness is that long range shot. But he has alot of skills that will only get better and refined over the years. 2-3 years from now I think he goes top 3 in a redraft, maybe even #1

With Butler, or any player, I think you have to base the comparison on Bulls Butler, not what he did later.

Best since MJ is a bit much. What about Pippen?

I like Matas potential and agree with you that itll take time.

Bulls Jimmy Butler is still out best since MJ

[Dan Z]

Is that you Fred?!

I doubt he'll be better than Butler. Butler was a two way stud, and of course after we move him he leads a team to the finals twice! But even here he was a legit #1. I rate him higher than Rose because A) he was way better as a two way player and B) wasn't cut short by injuries.

But even though he probably won't top Jimmy, i too am excited about Matas and todays game if anything only added to that. His biggest weakness is that long range shot. But he has alot of skills that will only get better and refined over the years. 2-3 years from now I think he goes top 3 in a redraft, maybe even #1

With Butler, or any player, I think you have to base the comparison on Bulls Butler, not what he did later.

Best since MJ is a bit much. What about Pippen?

I like Matas potential and agree with you that itll take time.

Bulls Jimmy Butler is still out best since MJ

Better than Pippen?

[Dominator83]

With Butler, or any player, I think you have to base the comparison on Bulls Butler, not what he did later.

Best since MJ is a bit much. What about Pippen?

I like Matas potential and agree with you that itll take time.

Bulls Jimmy Butler is still out best since MJ

Better than Pippen?

Bro, I mean since that era ended! Post dynasty

But no none of our players of the last 26 years were better than Pippen was. I'll take pipp over any of them.

[Dan Z]

Bulls Jimmy Butler is still out best since MJ

Better than Pippen?

Bro, I mean since that era ended! Post dynasty

But no none of our players of the last 26 years were better than Pippen was. I'll take pipp over any of them.

Ah ok...that makes sense.

I just hope the Bulls find their next great player. Its sad that the Bulls havent had better players in the last 26 years (overall).

[League Circles]

Is that you Fred?!

I doubt he'll be better than Butler. Butler was a two way stud, and of course after we move him he leads a team to the finals twice! But even here he was a legit #1. I rate him higher than Rose because A) he was way better as a two way player and B) wasn't cut short by injuries.

But even though he probably won't top Jimmy, i too am excited about Matas and todays game if anything only added to that. His biggest weakness is that long range shot. But he has alot of skills that will only get better and refined over the years. 2-3 years from now I think he goes top 3 in a redraft, maybe even #1

With Butler, or any player, I think you have to base the comparison on Bulls Butler, not what he did later.

Best since MJ is a bit much. What about Pippen?

I like Matas potential and agree with you that itll take time.

Bulls Jimmy Butler is still out best since MJ

I'm not saying Matas is a better player or that he definitely will be better than MJ. I'm saying Matas had the most star potential since MJ. He's just way more gifted than Jimmy, and IMO even more gifted than Rose was.

[Dez]

With Butler, or any player, I think you have to base the comparison on Bulls Butler, not what he did later.

Best since MJ is a bit much. What about Pippen?

I like Matas potential and agree with you that itll take time.

Bulls Jimmy Butler is still out best since MJ

I'm not saying Matas is a better player or that he definitely will be better than MJ. I'm saying Matas had the most star potential since MJ. He's just way more gifted than Jimmy, and IMO even more gifted than Rose was.

Let the overreacting begin!

[CROBulls]

Good first game. Kid is legit high upside talent. Being few years now since Bulls drafted legit talent like that in draft. Last one was Lauri.

[waffle]

great handles! Very active. Always plays with a bounce which I love

[sco]

I have empathy for the optimism, but I see a raw talent with athleticism right now, and that's just fine. I see a lack of lateral quickness (although his strength isn't as bad as I thought) and defensive awareness coupled with a lack of a 3pt shot, so his floor is Tyrus Thomas, IMO. Barring a desire to tank next season (which is very possible), I'd be (very pleasantly) surprised if he's ready to start by then. But look, if he was a complete player, he'd have been gone by 11.

[FriedRise]

Read on Twitter

That’s the most consecutive words Pat has ever spoken in his life. It’s hard to believe that quote is even his.

Decent chance Will had it pry it out of him via multiple questions

[DuckIII]

Read on Twitter

That’s the most consecutive words Pat has ever spoken in his life. It’s hard to believe that quote is even his.

Decent chance Will had it pry it out of him via multiple questions

It’s a word collage constructed from all the syllables he’s spoken publicly since being drafted.

[Evil_Headband]

He really doesn't seem to have the desire to be the alpha dog like Butler always did. From his interview with KC he doesn't care how many points he scores or how many boards or 3s, he just wants to make plays that help the team win. I'm not sure if there's such a thing as an aggressive glue guy, but Buzelis might be it. The Kirilenko comps still seem the most accurate, last guy I remember who had star talent but very focused on doing a bit of everything.

Players are taught to say it's all about the team and winning. There is some truth to that but there is plenty left unsaid.

[dougthonus]

I'm not saying Matas is a better player or that he definitely will be better than MJ. I'm saying Matas had the most star potential since MJ. He's just way more gifted than Jimmy, and IMO even more gifted than Rose was.

He's no where near as gifted as Rose was. Rose had a much higher skill level than Matas at the same age and was way more of a plus athlete.

Matas is a good looking prospect, looks like a solid athlete, good ball handler, high motor guy, and definitely has that aggressive vibe to his game, but his shot is broken, and he doesn't have any elite physical traits (which will never change) and doesn't have any obvious skills that seem likely to rise to elite level (though you never know what development path he will take).

As a prospect, my closest Bulls comp would be James Johnson, who looked like a very good ball handler with size and two way potential with the hope that if he could fix his shot he'd be really good. Johnson never put together the shot, and bounced around the league as a defender / niche player for a long time. Hopefully Matas learns to shoot.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

I'm not saying Matas is a better player or that he definitely will be better than MJ. I'm saying Matas had the most star potential since MJ. He's just way more gifted than Jimmy, and IMO even more gifted than Rose was.