2024 Draft Prospect: Matas Buzelis

[fatlever]

https://www.tankathon.com/players/matas-buzelis

Matas Buzelis

POSITION SF
HEIGHT 6'10" (6'10" wingspan)
WEIGHT 197 lbs
DRAFT AGE 19.68 yrs
BIRTHDATE Oct 13, 2004
HOMETOWN Hinsdale, IL
HIGH SCHOOL Sunrise Christian Academy

[fatlever]

this dude is the enigma for me. thoughts on his fit with hornets
can he improve his shooting?
how's his defense?
player comps?

[KingCat]

The shooter that shot 28% from three. No real discernable or stand out skill displayed at Ignite. Won't have a defined role at the next level. Definitely at the bottom of my list.

[amcoolio]

Poor mans' Franz. Hilarious if the Pistons draft their 5th top-5 pick questionable shooter in a row

That said, he dominated Miller in the rookie-soph game

[luciano-davidwesley]

Poor mans' Franz. Hilarious if the Pistons draft their 5th top-5 pick questionable shooter in a row

That said, he dominated Miller in the rookie-soph game

He was playing for a lot more in that game than Miller was.

[fatlever]

https://youtu.be/7GKfW0cybOY?si=xSP07SZaRJphTKWR

all hornets did deep dive on buz
they have him ranked 4/6 respectively

[EmpireFalls]

I don’t dislike Matas but we need to view him as a 4 who won’t be ready for a couple years. Viewed through that lens he’s intriguing, just as Holland is, but he won’t be ready to give us much until 2026.

[SWedd523]

I don’t dislike Matas but we need to view him as a 4 who won’t be ready for a couple years. Viewed through that lens he’s intriguing, just as Holland is, but he won’t be ready to give us much until 2026.

I don't see why he can't replicate much of what a PJ gives you right now.

[yosemiteben]

https://youtu.be/7GKfW0cybOY?si=xSP07SZaRJphTKWR

all hornets did deep dive on buz
they have him ranked 4/6 respectively

4/6 prospects? Who are the 6?

[MugzZo]

I hyped him up in January through late March. I would be excited if we pick him. That game winner over Miller might matter. They could be thinking if we put him next to b milly that's a potential nice wing set! He's more ready to contribute than Holland imo.

[EmpireFalls]

I don’t dislike Matas but we need to view him as a 4 who won’t be ready for a couple years. Viewed through that lens he’s intriguing, just as Holland is, but he won’t be ready to give us much until 2026.

I don't see why he can't replicate much of what a PJ gives you right now.

Strength and shot is going to be the thing that needs work. He needs 2 years of NBA nutrition and conditioning minimum to truly be able to play the 4 and rebound/dish out contact in the way necessary.

But once he does that, and hopefully figures out the shot, yeah, he can be PJ with even a bit more quickness and shot creation.

[fatlever]

https://youtu.be/7GKfW0cybOY?si=xSP07SZaRJphTKWR

all hornets did deep dive on buz
they have him ranked 4/6 respectively

4/6 prospects? Who are the 6?

chase had him ranked 4th, plow 6th. i'm not sure who they had ahead. chase said holland was his 3rd.

[LofJ]

Other than being a good weak side shot blocker, which is a great skill to have as a 4, what does Buzelis do well right now?

[Snidely FC]

Dirk step back

Read on Twitter

Over Brandon

Read on Twitter

[Snidely FC]

He is 6'10 with guard skills, only 19, and loves basketball.

Read on Twitter

Givony (ESPN+, DraftXpress founder) likes him. I posted this Givony note in the Draft Prospects thread back on Feb 20:

Spoiler:

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

[EmpireFalls]

Id take him if he’s there at 6, no questions. But I think Pokusevski is a better player for the next two seasons.

[JMAC3]

Id take him if he’s there at 6, no questions. But I think Pokusevski is a better player for the next two seasons.

This is giving Brandon Miller will be in the Gleague as a rookie vibes.

[EmpireFalls]

Id take him if he’s there at 6, no questions. But I think Pokusevski is a better player for the next two seasons.

This is giving Brandon Miller will be in the Gleague as a rookie vibes.

Well, I’m high on Poku so it’s part of my thinking. But Matas struggled to play at even a replacement level in the G League and needs a lot of strength and shooting work. He’s a project, he can play sure but expecting him to be a starting 4 is a bit optimistic

[JMAC3]

Id take him if he’s there at 6, no questions. But I think Pokusevski is a better player for the next two seasons.

This is giving Brandon Miller will be in the Gleague as a rookie vibes.

Well, I’m high on Poku so it’s part of my thinking. But Matas struggled to play at even a replacement level in the G League and needs a lot of strength and shooting work. He’s a project, he can play sure but expecting him to be a starting 4 is a bit optimistic

The Ignite teams are always awful, him not being able to survive as a top 1/2 option on a disfunctional team doesn't really turn me off of him being a first forward off the bench type of role.

Poku legit averaged 5ppg in his 4th nba year, if Matas is worse than that he shouldn't be a lottery pick.

[Snidely FC]

player comps?

pie in the sky comp for Buz:

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

;t=32s

Watch on YouTube

;t=103s