Matas Buzelis, who was the No. 1 prospect in the very first 2024 mock draft that ESPN’s Jonathan Givony published a year ago, had slipped to 10th in ESPN’s prospect rankings last month, but has rebounded nicely as of late, Givony writes in an Insider-only story.
After missing the first part of the G League season due to ankle problems, Buzelis has shown off an improved three-point shot in recent weeks (38.5% in his past 10 games) and has been better on the defensive end of the court, according to Givony, who notes that the Ignite guard/forward made an impact at All-Star weekend, hitting a game-winning shot in the Rising Stars semifinal on Friday.
While Buzelis hasn’t reclaimed that No. 1 spot on ESPN’s big board, he’s back up to No. 6. And, as Givony observes, in a class with no obvious top prospect, a strong finish to the G League season could put the 19-year-old back in the conversation for that first overall pick.
Here are a few more notes on the 2024 NBA draft:
- Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN.com (Insider link) examine where things stand for the G League Ignite, noting that Adam Silver‘s comments at All-Star weekend suggest that the program’s days may be numbered. The Ignite are just 2-19 this season and player development has been inconsistent due to the lack of quality guard play, Woo writes. Still, it seems safe to assume the Ignite will be back for the 2024/25 season, since prospects like Dink Pate and Thierry Darlan are under contract for another year and the program continues to actively recruit high-profile prospects.
- International prospects Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr top the latest mock draft from Givony and Woo, with Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham at No. 3, Buzelis at No. 4, and Colorado’s Cody Williams at No. 5.
- Risacher and Sarr are also the two players first off the board in the newest mock draft from Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. However, there are significant deviations from ESPN’s mock draft beyond that, starting with Serbian point guard Nikola Topic (No. 3) and Connecticut wing Stephon Castle (No. 5) cracking Vecenie’s top five. Topic is at No. 6 in ESPN’s mock, while Castle is all the way down at No. 15.
- Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports has also published a new mock draft for 2024, with Sarr claiming the top spot.
I could rebuild a team through one draft and one off-season
Send some teams your resume. I’m sure they could use a good laugh.
I know way more than you casual
@Luke I like that theory let play the game.
You have the 24 draft and this off season to rebuild, choose an aging team(with reason, with their current assets and players) and say what you would do?
PS this isn’t 2K you can’t just magic trade for #1,#2,#3 and trade 4 randoms and a pick for a star. All within reason.
Give me any team JW91 and I will tell you
Okay blow up bulls and rebuild with this FA and draft with current assets and draft projections, fair trades are all good(But use assumption DeMar walks though)…that’s a fair one.
Honestly I feel like this is a easy one. If DeRozan walks and they have played horrible then I would do a full rebuild. DeRozan and Drummond walk.
Convince Patrick Williams to stay and resign him to play SF, Trade Zach Lavine and some way future seconds to Brooklyn for the expiring contract of Ben Simmons(Waive). Lonzo will opt into his contract and then waive him too.
The Bulls need to figure out if Dalen Terry is their future starting SG, Coby White is playing good to start at PG even though I like him at the sixth man PG, ayo backing white up. Williams starts at SF with Phillips back him up. Sign Sanogo to a standard contract to develop at PF off the bench and waive the other two way guys.
Now you have only three tradable asset’s in Vucevic, Curuso and Carter who you trade for a young PF, SG or C with other contracts included. Draft a SG, PF or C in the draft. There are many prospects in this draft to grab and develop. You have one veteran in Craig to keep and sign two more veterans off the bench to help the young guys.
I’m sure Curuso and Vucevic can get you a decent young guy or a good pick. Tank for one year and keep Donovan to see how he does developing the young guys then try to compete the following season.
Trade ideas are Vucevic and Curuso to Memphis for Luke Kennard, Zhaire Williams and GG Jackson. Or Vucevic and Curuso to Dallas for Maxi, Josh Green and Lively. I don’t this one would happen but Vucevic and Curuso with a future pick for Chris Paul and Kuminga.
It’s hard to say who to target, there are a lot of players to trade for and alot of free agents and draft players.
If these guys are free agents then look at them, Bates, max Christie, Brandon Boston, Wiseman, pippen jr, Kessler Edwards, Lawson, jalen Smith, Luka S, Bol Bol and Claxton
There are so many draft prospects i would have to include in another post.(if you ask)
I would do a full rebuild and find a bunch of young talent, get those bad contracts gone by waiving Simmons and maybe keeping Lonzo for a future trade idk but if I was in the Bulls ears then I could give out a full plan. I just would try to find the youngest talent and start fresh but I could do it in one year from a rebuild to a competitive team. I know every player since 1953 and am fixing a book on every team in the past and what they should of done to be better to win it all.
To be realistic who the Bulls can draft then look at every position except SF were Williams is playing. Walter will probably be there to draft. There are so many 2nd rd sleepers in this draft to find and then also sign to two ways. They need young talent at every position from PG to C.
See this is what I like. I miss these sort of things on this site, too much “I am better and than you”, “you’re wrong because my team is better” etc. just have a bit of fun.(even if you did play the “I know more” card which wasn’t needed)
And yes Bulls are easy but I like what you did. I doubt Griz part with GG though as I think they’ve found a gem and they know it. I like the Kumminga and CP3 deal and I think Dubs would go for it, maybe even without a pick as the window on Steph is tight and they might get desperate.
I would also be looking at Detroit as buyers trying to get out of the “worst ever team” badge. Could use any of Zach/Caruso/Vuc to get a couple good young assets from them as they’re desperate for a quick fix, and I think you could get more than a couple 2nds and a Ben buy out from BKN for Zach. An AS level high scorer is valuable, even with an albatross contract and a long list of injury history, he’s just a slightly younger Beal. It could also be an idea to sell high on White. With the general consensus that 24 is a “terrible” draft(I don’t agree) you could also pick up a fairly good pick if needs be, the mock top 10 has changed about 50 times so far, if you could get 2 in the lottery it would be a huge win(maybe kick the tyres on OKC for that Houston pick, I’m sure they would rather a good role player like White or Ayo).
All in I like your plan mostly, but would be worth trying to go for a young with higher upside than Kumminga outside of the draft, maybe Ivey is gettable or Cam Thomas, could even look to Magic for one of their young fringe guards or wings etc. The possibilities are endless which way to go. But eother way I asked and you gave the response.
I played that card because he was rude to me first for no reason.
I do think Kuminga would be great there, with Patrick Williams at SF then, switching depending on the lineup. (Flip Paul) The Bulls would need a defensive young C next to them then. I agree with trading White for another PG or a draft pick this year. GS needs to try to save themselves before it all falls apart. Detroit might not be thinking right and accept a deal for Ivey. If the Bulls can trade Lavine and white for Ben Simmons (Waive) and Cam Thomas. Then the Bulls can draft a PG or C in Collier or Clingan.
PG. Collier or a PG around the age of 22
SG. Cam Thomas
SF. Patrick Williams
PF. Kuminga
C. Clingan or Wiseman(signed)
Veterans on the bench with good role players who can play defense with no bad contracts going beyond the following season.
Pippen Jr would be a nice signing to the fans along with Dennis Rodmans son coming out of the draft. This draft has alot of prospects. (I have looked at every division 1 school roster and have many players scouted) This draft is decent
Yes I agree and think people should be more respectful and give their random ideas and have more fun instead of just saying things like that is dumb or you know nothing etc etc
I appreciate your insight JW91
Bro
I’m not sold on Williams, just don’t look like more than an average role player at best. There are better young wings might even be worth taking a risk on a friendly contract for Miles Bridges and hope the lawsuits and drama is over with(unlikely but worth a non-guaranteed few year cheap deal). But again there are wings that I like a lot more than Pat Williams.
I do like Pippen Jr he needs an opportunity with someone, but I haven’t seen much of baby Rodman to have an opinion on him. The sad reality of it all though, is that we both know Bulls will stick with the same set up, overpay for DeMar and be a terribly mediocre team for the next few years to come!
NIL killed the Ignite.
Perfect Spurs scenario, get Sarr and Topic. Sarr is going to be legit. This draft will also surprise. Not all doom and gloom as predicted by some. Sarr and Dillingham would be a win win for San Antonio too. Sarr and Wemby could be something crazy good next to each other.