[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Matas Buzelis
Frame: 6’10″, 209 lbs
Position: Forward
Team: G League Ignite
2024 Draft Age: 19
Stats via www.stats.g league.nba.com.

Offense

Buzelis had a disappointing year for Ignite, only shooting 27.3 percent on 0.9 attempts per game. Most of his attempts were off the catch, and when looking at his form, it is difficult to see why he shot so poorly. He has a very high release with sound mechanics. There are some things to point out in his shooting motion, such as his habit of immediately bringing the ball down instead of rising right after catching it. He shot 67.9 percent from the free throw line on 2.2 attempts per game, which raises further concern regarding his shot. But with much better guard play and an off-ball role at the next level, there is reason to believe he will improve as a shooter. 

Despite the lack of premier guard play, Buzelis was able to generate easy points for himself by making timely cuts and filling open areas on the floor quickly. He often drops to the dunker’s spot when positioned on the weak side, where his teammates driving would find him for flushes. He can get off the ground quickly and typically use his length to score before opponents have time to react. Buzelis finished the season with a 54.6 true shooting percentage, even with his horrid perimeter and free-throw shooting. 

Another area of improvement for Buzelis is his ability to score over smaller defenders in the mid-post. He frequently went to this move for Ignite, especially along the baseline. He has stiff hips and is a bit upright, which makes it hard to back down opponents, especially ones much older and more experienced than him. Often, he would be pushed off from his spots and almost shoot sideways. Buzelis will have to get more robust and flexible, especially regarding his lower body, to take advantage of mismatches in the NBA. 

In a limited role, Buzelis showed some connective playmaking. He kept the ball moving at times, hitting the open man, whether a big man in the dunker’s spot or a wing on the perimeter. However, the overall environment of Ignite, where prospects were passing up an open teammate for a contested shot, did rub off on Buzelis, and he had his share of questionable shot attempts. Buzelis averaged 1.9 assists to 2.1 turnovers on the season, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.91.

Defense

Buzelis is best defensively when playing on the weak side and coming over to make plays at the rim. Buzelis can get off the ground quickly and shows good timing when contesting shots. He has had several highlight dunks throughout the season, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. He struggles to play on the strong side, as opposing ball handlers can come right at him and throw off his path. 

Off the ball, Buzelis tends to lose his man frequently. He can get caught roaming, leading to an advantage for the offensive team. On the ball, he needs help staying in front of quicker players with poor footwork and stiffness. He is too late to react to what the offensive player is doing instead of being proactive. He could be better at closing out on shooters, either flying at them or being too upright so they can blow right by him and again create an advantage. 

Looking Ahead

Buzelis came into the year as a prospect with a seemingly high floor, only for said floor to be swept from under him this past season. He offers some intrigue as a rim protector and cutter, but with clear defensive limitations, he must be able to knock down perimeter shots as he expected to earn minutes in the NBA. If he can reclaim his shot, paired with his connective skills, Buzelis could profile as a quality offensive wing. This has led to remaining intrigued by Buzelis as a prospect, which is enough to validate him as a top-tier prospect in this class. 

Buzelis projects to be a top-ten pick in the 2024 draft. He is a back-end rotation player with a floor of a potential quality starter if he can regain his form as a perimeter shooter.