MrSparkle wrote:Muzbar wrote:MrSparkle wrote:
It’s a tough climb becoming a legit all-star, who gets the toughest defensive schemes every night…
But stats are stats. His low-min. preseason numbers are very strong; 40% 3P. His rebounds and turnovers need to improve, but once he settles into the season, I’m not seeing any glaring flaws that would limit his ASG potential. His handles and IQ are really good, and the Ignite shooting percentages seemed lower than his skillset.
Honestly, he should’ve gone top-5. I’m still surprised he dropped to 11. Cody Williams, Salaun? Holland can become a dog, but I spent an hour browsing these guys in real games and realized they had all kinds of red flags, whereas Matas was just getting iced in terrible Ignite system ball (while Ron got the green-light to be Westbrook while airballing half his jump-shots and throwing errant passes - very bizarre coaching decision).
I’m also still wondering if teams will continue drafting NCAA bench projects with top-5 picks. Reed seems like he can still put it together, but obviously he’s not where you would’ve wanted your #3 to be.
Anyway, I don’t see Matas making it this year, but if his trajectory continues, y3/2027 is a longshot but reasonable bet I think. I don’t see Risacher and Sarr making it.
I'm not saying Matas won't be an All-star, but it's a big jump to get that recognition, especially if your team isn't a winning team.
I agree he should have been top 5, I was extremely shocked when the Pistons took Holland at 5 (I thought he'd be the one to fall to the Bulls), I was shocked when he continued to fall and then fully expected the Jazz to pick Matas right before the Bulls, breaking my heart... but, we all know what happened instead.
Matas won't be making the All-star game this season, I'd even argue he probably won't next season either, not because I don't think he'll be good, but there's a lot of forwards that are already All-stars and will get voted in purely on popularity.
The sky's the limit for Matas, and he seems to have the correct mindset to go with it. I haven't been this excited about a Bulls player since Derrick Rose.
Yeah, maybe a jump. The forward landscape in East is kind of weaker than ever now though, esp. with the injuries and last gen aging out.
1. Giannis
2. Tatum * once he’s back, assuming he doesn’t decline much from the injury
3. Mobley
4. Jaylen * usually been classified as a SG
5. Pascal
6. Franz
7. Paolo
Then somewhere to round it out, it’ll be Jalen J., Barnes, and then it gets more murky and open with Mikal, OG, Wiggins, Miles.
So with injuries, Matas could have a fringe shot at the 5th Forward ASG spot this February, if he were to go bananas. It would be a stunning longshot.
I do feel like Vuc and the Bulls’ record as a result of Vuc is going to hamper that.
Don't forget (assuming he's healthy) Embiid is considered a 'forward' as is Jarrett Allen, so they could be taking up some more spots.
I agree Vuc will also hamper the Bulls record, I also believe he'll hamper Buzelis' stats as Vuc will want his touches (the Bulls need a defensive, rim running big man in the worse way).
Either way, for the first time in a while, I'm sort of excited for this Bulls season, I'm keen to see how Matas and Giddey grow.
