Advantages and disadvantages of Matas Buzelis

Sixth in a series of pros and cons for players the Rockets could take at No. 3 in the NBA Draft on June 26.

Position: F
Height: 6-9
Age: 19
Team: The G League is on fire

It would be a shock in the draft if Buzelis is chosen before the Rockets are on the clock with the third pick.

He is generally considered a candidate to consider in the drafts that will begin after the Rockets make their choice, but he is not far from the players, especially the wings, who will be considered among the top picks.

Buzelis is a particularly intriguing prospect. With good size, offensive versatility and athleticism, he can check a lot of boxes.

While he can’t be considered an offense-initiating playmaker, he has a good feel for moving the ball and finding the open man on his drives. This could make him a good fit for a team that doesn’t ask him to run its offense. He also has a strong midfield, especially for a young player, allowing him to score with floaters and hooks.

Questions arise when evaluating him as a shooter after a poor season with the G League Ignite from the perimeter, making 26.1 of his 3s. He may be turnover-prone, which also leads teams to determine how they think he will improve, because his ball handling seems too strong to be as loose with the ball as he was last season.

Defensively, he is active and can play in help situations or in the passing lanes, but he can struggle in one-on-one defense and in matchups with physical frontcourt players.

The Rockets have typically drafted for an advantage and Buzelis has it. If his shooting improves, and there’s reason to think so, Buzelis could be an exceptional offensive player, capable of integrating well with the skill sets of various teammates.

The Rockets lucked into the third pick of the draft, with their pick going to the Nets from ninth in the draft lottery. They may not have the option to choose so early in the coming years, which could tempt them to bet on high caps.

After an injury, Buzelis struggled early in the season but came into the game well late, which could indicate that his poor numbers aren’t indicative of what he would bring, even initially, at the next level.

He also excels in the open court, with the Rockets looking to run more often since last season’s All-Star break.

This could be a chance to take Buzelis third, and especially a gamble for the Rockets given their needs.

His perimeter shooting, unpredictable at best, cannot be considered an argument for a team that has not shot well from the 3-point line. He’s also not the one-on-one defender they were looking for in the last two picks. Although he is quite long, Buzelis is so slender that he might have difficulty in the Rockets’ switching schemes.

With the Rockets roster crowded on the wings, especially with solid defensive options, it would be difficult to integrate Buzelis.