2024 NBA Draft: Breaking Down Chicago Bulls Draft Class

With their only draft pick they selected Chicago native Matas Buzelis out of the G League Ignite program. Buzelis was at one point considered a potential number one pick candidate but as the season went along he saw his name slip a bit on mock drafts and draft boards. The 6-foot-10 forward is a very good finisher around the rim due to his touch and creativity at his size.

He absolutely thrives in the open floor where he’s able to showcase his finishing versatility, ball-handling skills and fluidity. There’s a chance Buzelis becomes a very good two-way player in the NBA as he has a high ceiling as a defender. Amongst all wings he might be the best shot-blocker in the draft and he also moves his feet very well laterally which allows him to contain ball-handlers off the dribble.

The potential to be a great versatile defender is very enticing. Buzelis has also shown flashes of being a capable secondary playmaker and ball-handler as he showcases an advanced feel for the game. The young wing has a lot of potential on both ends of the floor and he has a chance to be one of the best players out of this draft.

Draft Summary

With the Bulls going into rebuild mode, this pick makes a lot of sense as Buzelis isn’t quite a finished product or polished so being in an environment where he doesn’t have to feel pressured to win right away would be a big relief off his shoulders and allow him to play with a lot of freedom. It has been rumored that the Bulls front office are actively trying to trade away Zach LaVine and Nikola Vukcevic so that they really can commit to a full rebuild.

Losing DeRozan certainly is a bummer and takes away any chances of them competing for a playoff spot this upcoming season. Buzelis has a lot of potential to be a high level two-way player similar to Franz Wagner on the Orlando Magic. He still needs to improve as an outside shooter and get stronger, but give him a couple of years and he has a chance to be the face of the franchise.

It’s also pretty cool that Buzelis is a Chicago native so he understands how important it is to bring success to the Bulls and with that there’s a bigger chance he stays committed to the Bulls long term if both sides really want to make it happen. Overall this was a very good draft out of the Bulls and the city of Chicago might be a bit nervous going into rebuild mode, but they should be very excited about the future as well.