With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, The Portland Trailblazers select. . .

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Pinwheel1 said:
Yeah, they were entertaining. They had a couple of good tidbits. James was not a huge Ace Bailey fan...that was interesting.

Their comments on Tidjane all seemed to be second-hand information. But exciting if true.

I did agree when he said Matas would eventually be better at PF than Wing. And he did say he thought Portland was a good fit for him.

Their biggest concern for him was his ball-handling skills. I am not sure this guy agrees:
https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobas...-buzelis-will-be-lithuania-s-future-superstar


"I have him as a top-5 pick in this draft," says O'Donnell, before explaining: "The creativity he shows with the ball in his hands is really unique for someone so tall. At 6'10", he's comfortable playing on the perimeter but he's also not afraid of contact."

Besides his versatile offensive skillset, Buzelis made strides when it came to his defense during the 2023-24 season.

"His defense beat my expectations this year. He looks good on rotations to the rim and can offer some extra shot blocking," states O'Donnell, while Baumbach takes it a step further: "He was one of the best shot blockers and weak side rim protectors in the G League this past season."

When it comes to his NBA projection, scouts mention his strength and his jump shot as the two aspects that Buzelis will need to improve, but if he does, the sky's the limit for him.

"Realistically, I think he'll be in the Deni Avdija ballpark — a multi-positional defender with some playmaking chops that teams can't completely ignore from behind the three-point line," Baumbach says before warning: "If his jumper really gets going, then he could be in the All-Star mix."
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The only way Matas should be drafted is if the team thinks he's a PF. His advantages are muted at the three spot.

All of these videos should be taken with a grain of salt, of course. It's just someone's take. But I have heard a lot of the same criticisms about Matas' game, not just in this video.

I too like Matas as a connective piece, but I think I'd go with Holland if he's here and go for a Salaun or Ware with the later pick. I also agree that I think Holland is more likely to reach his ceiling than Matas. I think at his best, Matas is a connective piece where as I think Holland can be more.
 
AmirIcon said:
The only way Matas should be drafted is if the team thinks he's a PF. His advantages are muted at the three spot.

All of these videos should be taken with a grain of salt, of course. It's just someone's take. But I have heard a lot of the same criticisms about Matas' game, not just in this video.

I too like Matas as a connective piece, but I think I'd go with Holland if he's here and go for a Salaun or Ware with the later pick. I also agree that I think Holland is more likely to reach his ceiling than Matas. I think at his best, Matas is a connective piece where as I think Holland can be more.
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I would as well.
 
Predator said:
Right now @ 7:
Castle, Holland, Topic

Salaun, Williams, and Matas would be meh for me

NO: Knecht, Dillingham

14:
Ware, Dadiet
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They all have their warts. They all have their interesting aspects. Honestly I kinda just trust Schmitz on this one. I’m just scared of Salaun right now, but he has his interesting aspects too.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Yeah, I agree. He looks like a safe bet to be a stretch 4 in a couple of years. But does he have any mid-range game off the dribble? Maybe but the highlights never show any. That doesn't mean he doesn't have the ability though. On the other hand, I have seen it from Cody Williams and Buzelis. We need a 3-level scorer
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Saluan has tried a few pull-up middy's, but the results were....not good. He literally hit the top of the backboard on his last attempt. He has no control of his shot if his momentum is going forward (or backward).

I couldn't find the example I'm referring to, but there's an example in this video at 7:02 of him attempting a fade-away and again hitting the top of the backboard. Keep watching for another hilarious play (7:32-38) that demonstrates his touch around the basket.



He's a full 4-year project. I can't recall a prospect looking quite this green and overcoming that with an insane rate of development to become a good NBA player.

Of course there are "projects" who worked out, but they all had something going for them: OG, Jerami Grant, Jermaine O'Neal, PG, Bynum, Giannis, Marc Gasol, Ibaka, DeAndre Jordan, Gobert, Jimmy Butler, Drummond.
 
MarinerDNA said:
Saluan has tried a few pull-up middy's, but the results were....not good. He literally hit the top of the backboard on his last attempt. He has no control of his shot if his momentum is going forward (or backward).

I couldn't find the example I'm referring to, but there's an example in this video at 7:02 of him attempting a fade-away and again hitting the top of the backboard. Keep watching for another hilarious play (7:32-38) that demonstrates his touch around the basket.



He's a full 4-year project. I can't recall a prospect looking quite this green and overcoming that with an insane rate of development to become a good NBA player.

Of course there are "projects" who worked out, but they all had something going for them: OG, Jerami Grant, Jermaine O'Neal, PG, Bynum, Giannis, Marc Gasol, Ibaka, DeAndre Jordan, Gobert, Jimmy Butler, Drummond.
Click to expand...

It’s like people are worried he’s the next Giannis and they don’t want to miss out.
 
Predator said:
Eventually people might figure out he’s a turnover machine
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Predator said:
Right now @ 7:
Castle, Holland, Topic

Salaun, Williams, and Matas would be meh for me

NO: Knecht, Dillingham

14:
Ware, Dadiet
Click to expand...

I prefer Holland as well over Buzelis, but why isn't he considered a "turnover machine" (3,2 per game) where Buzelis is? (2.2 per game)
My guess is it had to do more with the Ignite team than the 2 players. I could be wrong but didn't their PG get injured and others were forced to play out of position? Either way, the team folded which is fine with me.
 
Natebishop3 said:
It’s like people are worried he’s the next Giannis and they don’t want to miss out.
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It's more fun to refer to Giannis as "Antetokounmpo" in draft conversations because it suggests that the "next Giannis" is more likely to be Thanasis....
:)
 
Wizard Mentor said:
For almost completely irrational reasons, I'm on the Holland+Ware bandwagon.
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I don't think anything is irrational in this draft. I am still interested in Buzelis and would love to know what the Blazers think of him after working him out, if he even comes to Portland. I think he is just locked in at five to Detroit. But you can't teach height. If Portland did get Buzelis then I probably wouldn't be as interested in Ware at 14. But Ware at 14 if Portland were to take Holland at 7 would be a good pairing.
 
Is a top 6 shaping up? If you had to bet, who's DEFINITELY gone by our first pick?

I'd say 100% certain:
Sarr
Risacher
...but that's about it.

Very likely gone:
Castle (boo)
Sheppard
Buzelis ?
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Is a top 6 shaping up? If you had to bet, who's DEFINITELY gone by our first pick?

I'd say 100% certain:
Sarr
Risacher
...but that's about it.

Very likely gone:
Castle (boo)
Sheppard
Buzelis ?
Click to expand...
This random dude on YT thinks ZR at 7 is possible



Unlikely but anything is possible in this draft
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Is a top 6 shaping up? If you had to bet, who's DEFINITELY gone by our first pick?

I'd say 100% certain:
Sarr
Risacher
...but that's about it.

Very likely gone:
Castle (boo)
Sheppard
Buzelis ?
Click to expand...
Clingan's had so much buzz around him the past 6 weeks that I'm hoping he goes in the top 6, but my personal bias of not seeing him as a top-6 talent refuses to allow me to believe that any other team will.
 
Over the last week, we have seen reports of Houston (3) and Utah (10) shopping their picks for veteran help.

Obviously, we don't know where this info is coming from, but the players available at 7 and 14 could be very different if other teams end up at 3 and 10.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
I prefer Holland as well over Buzelis, but why isn't he considered a "turnover machine" (3,2 per game) where Buzelis is? (2.2 per game)
My guess is it had to do more with the Ignite team than the 2 players. I could be wrong but didn't their PG get injured and others were forced to play out of position? Either way, the team folded which is fine with me.
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Because you aren’t drafting Holland to be a “connective” piece. Completely different roles.

If we were drafting Holland to create shots for others, I’d be calling him a turnover machine as well. But luckily, no one projects him to be a playmaker for others as his “ceiling” in the NBA.
 
Predator said:
Because you aren’t drafting Holland to be a “connective” piece. Completely different roles.

If we were drafting Holland to create shots for others, I’d be calling him a turnover machine as well. But luckily, no one projects him to be a playmaker for others as his “ceiling” in the NBA.
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Why would Holland not have a "connective piece" role? Other than most centers and power forwards...they all need to develop that skill.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Why would Holland not have a "connective piece" role? Other than most centers and power forwards...they all need to develop that skill.
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Of course it is a skill they should have, but that’s not his “NBA” skill. That is THE skill that is going to get Buzelis drafted. Hollands skill that is going to get him drafted is defense and his scoring upside.
 
Predator said:
Of course it is a skill they should have, but that’s not his “NBA” skill. That is THE skill that is going to get Buzelis drafted. Hollands skill that is going to get him drafted is defense and his scoring upside.
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I prefer Holland over Buzelis. But it is not just because of his D. If it was then I would prefer Matas.

I love the way Holland attacks the basket, but against better defenders, he will absolutely need to make the right pass to his teammate. I think he can but if he can't he won't be playing in crunch time.

Buzelis on the other hand can also play defense, block some shots, rebound, pass, and shoot. (Very good turnaround jumper IMO) I just don't think that his ability to "connect" is why he is currently ranked so high in this draft. I think he has the potential to be a good all-around player. I would still take Holland though
 
Pinwheel1 said:
I prefer Holland over Buzelis. But it is not just because of his D. If it was then I would prefer Matas.

I love the way Holland attacks the basket, but against better defenders, he will absolutely need to make the right pass to his teammate. I think he can but if he can't he won't be playing in crunch time.

Buzelis on the other hand can also play defense, block some shots, rebound, pass, and shoot. (Very good turnaround jumper IMO) I just don't think that his ability to "connect" is why he is currently ranked so high in this draft. I think he has the potential to be a good all-around player. I would still take Holland though
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I didn’t say it was because of his defense, I said it’s because of his defense AND scoring upside.

Making the right pass to a teammate is completely different than being a playmaker.

You use Rudy Gay a lot different than Lamar Odom.

Buzelis is a good off-ball defender but he is BAD on-ball.

Holland: Better overall defender, better rebounder, more scoring upside. Worse: Playmaker. I’d also say worse shooter although they both were launching bricks from 3.

I mean, 99% of people in this thread have said they’d draft Matas as a connective playmaker. Most analysts describe him as that.

Also, everything you’ve mentioned is why I’d be “meh” on him. I just don’t see the star potential from him because he doesn’t have the ball-handling and finishing ability to have that type of scoring potential.
 
inconceivable said:
This random dude on YT thinks ZR at 7 is possible



Unlikely but anything is possible in this draft
Click to expand...


Yep agree "unlikely"
He made some good predictions though, but Buzelis at #2 over Risacher is not going to happen. So if the rest of it is right we will still be choosing between Buzelis and Holland. I still don't count out Williams just because he weighed in lower than expected. Of all the "issues" that can be overcome.......putting on weight is not at the top of my list.
 
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Predator said:
I mean, 99% of people in this thread have said they’d draft Matas as a connective playmaker. Most analysts describe him as that.
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I still think you are putting too much emphasis on the "connective playmaker" part of why some like him. It is just one of the "potential" skills they believe he has. Not the biggest. So I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.
 
cheesehoff said:
Shot mechanics look like Lonzo Ball. A right hander shooting off the left side of their head will always struggle with consistency.
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I don't think it looks as bad as Lonzo's shot. But I would be happy with Lonzo's 3 pt results from his last three years. (37% , 38%, 42%)
 
Pinwheel1 said:
Yep agree "unlikely"
He made some good predictions though, but Buzelis at #2 over Risacher is not going to happen. So if the rest of it is right we will still be choosing between Buzelis and Holland. I still don't count out Williams just because he weighed in lower than expected. Of all the "issues" that can be overcome.......putting on weight is not at the top of my list.
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Weight is not Cody's primary issue. If he were 'Durant' (where weight was really the only issue), he'd be a clear #1.

He has great shooting percentages. His issues are how passive he is. He doesn't get rebounds, assists, or steals. He gets lost on D. His handle is decent (but not good). The only way he can drive to the basket is off of hand-off screens at the top of the key.
 
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