Bulls select Chicago native with 11th overall pick

Brad Penner - USA Today Sports

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Thu Jun 27 07:09:03 GMT-05:00 2024

With only one pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls had a ton of pressure on them, as they needed to nail the No. 11 pick. Rumors swirling all week about the Bulls trying to trade up or move pieces around to acquire more players, but none of that came true heading into round one, as the Bulls held their only pick of the night, 11.

As the picks started to come off the board, you started to see some of the names linked to the Bulls come off, which shouldn't surprise anyone when you look at who they were interested in pre-draft. With the Bulls on the clock and ready to make their No. 11 selection, it was a surprising name, to say the least, but one that comes with a ton of upside in Matas Buzelis of the G-League Ingite.

Widely regarded as the sixth-best prospect in this class, having him fall to No. 11 was a massive surprise, and it is one the Bulls will gladly take as they could turn out to be the steal of the draft. A Chicago Native growing up, Buzelis showed a ton of emotion when he heard his name called, and for once, the Bulls didn't screw their first-round pick and went with a player that has a ton of potential.

“I’m blessed, man,” Buzelis said after being drafted. "This is what I wanted. I wanted to be here. Thanks to the Bulls organization. I’m ready to work, I was born for this."

Buzelis had a decorated high school career, winning back-to-back player of the year honors in different states. That alone helped him become one of the more highly recruited Wings in his class, but he elected to skip college and join the G-League Ignite to compete against NBA-caliber talent.

All he did with the Ignite was put up solid numbers, and numbers the Bulsl would gladly take over an extended period of time. Buzelis averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game in his only season in the G-League and showed off excellent athletic ability that could have him thinking Dunk contest later on.

While there are still some concerns about his shooting ability, especially from the outside, the Bulls and most teams loved his athletic ability and knack for making plays, which is why he was so well-liked in the Pre-Draft process. Listed as a wing, Buzelis has the ability to play both Guard and forward and can offer the versatility that Billy Donovan loves to have on his roster.

He is also a great defender on the defensive side, and that two-way potential has captivated scouts for a long time. At 6-9 and just over 200 pounds, Buzelis does need to put some weight on to be successful at the next level, but that body type alone will help him be an extremely versatile piece for the Bulls for years to come.

Buzelis plays a modern style that belongs in today's NBA game. He has great athleticism, impressive mobility, and, most importantly, an aggressive mindset that helps him make plays all over the floor. He can put the ball on the floor and attack while also using his size to finish over smaller wings and his athleticism to maneuver his way past more lumbering bigs.

Buzelis may not be the most coordinated ball-handler, but he is still growing into his body and remains extremely quick but very light on his feet. For him to take his game to the next level, Buzelis must improve his 27.3% shooting from downtown, as that is his biggest area of concern right now.

If he can put in the work and improve that aspect of his game, Buzelis will play a massive role in this offense for years to come and could become a player worth building around in the near future.