Central Division Rookies Holland and Buzelis Join NBA Fray as Pistons and Bulls Make Picks

In a significant moment for the Central Division, rising stars Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis have embarked on their NBA journeys after the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls selected them in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Holland, a product of the NBA G League Ignite program, was taken by the Pistons with the fifth pick, while Buzelis, a Chicago native, found his home with the Bulls six picks later.

The NBA G League Ignite, where both Holland and Buzelis honed their skills, is set to be discontinued after the 2024 season due to changing dynamics in college basketball attracting emerging talents.

For Holland, who stood out with a scoring average of 19.5 points in a truncated G League season, the Pistons’ selection marked a surprise given his lack of contact with the franchise prior to the draft.

Buzelis, on the other hand, expressed immense pride in being chosen by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, citing his Lithuanian heritage and the significance of representing his roots.

Embracing a new era, the Pistons, under the leadership of newly appointed President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon, signaled a fresh start by drafting Holland, making him their latest top-five selection.

The abrupt dismissal of coach Monty Williams, merely a year into his lucrative contract, has left the Pistons without a head coach, adding an air of uncertainty to their immediate future.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers, intent on further bolstering their young roster, picked California forward Jaylon Tyson to enhance their wing depth and shooting capabilities, following the recent hiring of coach Kenny Atkinson.

With the Indiana Pacers progressing furthest in the postseason among Central Division teams but lacking a first-round pick, their focus shifts to the second round to potentially address roster gaps as free agency looms for key players like Myles Turner and T.J. McConnell.

The Milwaukee Bucks, keen on fortifying their squad for sustained success, secured AJ Johnson as a promising prospect at the 21st pick, aiming to develop the California native into a key contributor in the future.