HOT TAKE: Aleksej Pokusevski will win the NBA MVP (Within the Next 10 Years)

[ItsDanger]

OKC has 3 1sts in '24 draft. Presti will need to adjust his stance in a few months or else accept loss on the aggregate draft capital.

[Chuck Everett]

Refusing the G-League when you're not getting minutes is wild to me. Especially considering the Thunder probably would have played him only in the OKC Blue home games. Has he shown enough that a team would want him? The other players Presti traded, not waived.

[Tacoma]

The problem with Presti's plan is that when you have too many assets, you have to eventually start cutting actual good players and assets because theres just no room.

He wont be unemployed long. I hope Dallas takes a gamble.

People usually say this and the guys he cuts go nowhere despite folks salivating. Happened with Moses Brown. Happened with Isaiah Roby.

Poku needs a bad team where he can play free and learn. He wouldn't get into the rotation in Dallas.

Idk I feel like Mann and Micic are victims of it too and (I know its a short sample size) they look great now that they have opportunities.

I just think Presti has them in a situation where he is stuck having to somewhat sell low on guys because theyre so deep and cant showcase trade candidates as much or having to just cut guys outright, despite them seemingly having some value left, for the same reason.

Regarding Poku, I just dont really understand how he wasnt able to salvage at least something of value in return for a 22 year old stretch 4 that started half the games he played in throughout his career so far.

With due respect to Poku or Mann/Micic, selling low on already low value players is not materially a loss. OKC doesn't have to always drop players to create space; they can do trades consolidating players and/or picks for better players.

The goal is always to upgrade the roster with better assets and that may necessitate dropping end of bench players, which is a normal process that all teams do. If having too many assets is a "problem" I'm sure other teams would love to have this problem.

[Bornstellar]

Spurs desperately need other bigs besides Zach Collins. Roby was a bust (last guy we claimed from OKC) but Poku still has potential. Hope Spurs cut Morris and pick him up

[dirkforpres]

People usually say this and the guys he cuts go nowhere despite folks salivating. Happened with Moses Brown. Happened with Isaiah Roby.

Poku needs a bad team where he can play free and learn. He wouldn't get into the rotation in Dallas.

Idk I feel like Mann and Micic are victims of it too and (I know its a short sample size) they look great now that they have opportunities.

I just think Presti has them in a situation where he is stuck having to somewhat sell low on guys because theyre so deep and cant showcase trade candidates as much or having to just cut guys outright, despite them seemingly having some value left, for the same reason.

Regarding Poku, I just dont really understand how he wasnt able to salvage at least something of value in return for a 22 year old stretch 4 that started half the games he played in throughout his career so far.

With due respect to Poku or Mann/Micic, selling low on already low value players is not materially a loss. OKC doesn't have to always drop players to create space; they can do trades consolidating players and/or picks for better players.

The goal is always to upgrade the roster with better assets and that may necessitate dropping end of bench players, which is a normal process that all teams do. If having too many assets is a "problem" I'm sure other teams would love to have this problem.

Agreed. Its a problem that any GM would love to have, but my point is that moves like these shouldnt be surprising, and more of them will have to happen in the immediate future too. As it stands, theyre projected to have two lottery picks join the team this summer... i dont really know where they would even fit on the depth chart.

[magee]

He's got the talent. There are going to be a lot of skilled players in the league. If he can make an All-Star game in the next 4 years, I'd consider an MVP as a possibility. Most MVP's made an All-Star game by Year 4.

Ooooof

[Clav]

OKC has 3 1sts in '24 draft. Presti will need to adjust his stance in a few months or else accept loss on the aggregate draft capital.

They now have 2.... hard to keep track but hope this helps.

OKC...
Traded "least favorable" of 24 to DEN, then that was sent to IND (Bruce Brown trade), which was routed to TOR (Siakam trade)

then, traded the "second least favorable" of 24 was sent to DAL (later sent to WAS) for a 28 unprot. swap during the trade dealing (Gafford trade).

Utah's is 1-10 protected (it may not convey this year as Jazz are #11 as of today)

HOU is 1-4 protected (it is likely to convey this year)

[Liver_Pooty]

Refusing the G-League when you're not getting minutes is wild to me. Especially considering the Thunder probably would have played him only in the OKC Blue home games. Has he shown enough that a team would want him? The other players Presti traded, not waived.

Hornets need him.

[BigGargamel]

LOL this thread was the first thing I thought of when I saw he was cut. RealGM never forgets.

[sfernald]

LOL this thread was the first thing I thought of when I saw he was cut. RealGM never forgets.

We are the tragic elephants of the nba, watching and remembering everything fall apart.

[QingJames]

It’s funny that Chet is basically the guy everyone hoped Poku would be.

[One_and_Done]

Spurs desperately need other bigs besides Zach Collins. Roby was a bust (last guy we claimed from OKC) but Poku still has potential. Hope Spurs cut Morris and pick him up

Spurs need a point guard, not a sucky big.

[Appostis]

I still say has potential to be in a rotation...

MVP potential..maybe not so much

[ElectricMayhem]

The dream is dead.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=H6ZdpizHAHU9tYO3mHsVjw

Premature. Poku's still got 7 years to fulfill his destiny. If Goudelock says it's going to happen, well, he's a man of his word so I know I can hang my hat on that promise and when I come back that hat's still gonna be there.

[Bornstellar]

Spurs desperately need other bigs besides Zach Collins. Roby was a bust (last guy we claimed from OKC) but Poku still has potential. Hope Spurs cut Morris and pick him up

Spurs need a point guard, not a sucky big.

Uh, my guy, they need a lot of things. PG will be addressed in the offseason but they desperately need a serviceable big. Zach Collins has been absolutely abysmal this season especially since the beginning of the year

[One_and_Done]

Spurs desperately need other bigs besides Zach Collins. Roby was a bust (last guy we claimed from OKC) but Poku still has potential. Hope Spurs cut Morris and pick him up

Spurs need a point guard, not a sucky big.

Uh, my guy, they need a lot of things. PG will be addressed in the offseason but they desperately need a serviceable big. Zach Collins has been absolutely abysmal this season especially since the beginning of the year

How will adding a worse big than Collins help?

[Bornstellar]

Spurs need a point guard, not a sucky big.

Uh, my guy, they need a lot of things. PG will be addressed in the offseason but they desperately need a serviceable big. Zach Collins has been absolutely abysmal this season especially since the beginning of the year

How will adding a worse big than Collins help?

I find it hard to believe any big can be worse than Collins at this point

[KyRo23]

When I saw the headline, I was hoping this post was bumped because it’s the only thing I think about when I think of Pokusevski. Literally the only thing I think about

[magee]

The second I saw the news of him being waived, I thought to myself, "**** did I make a post about him potentially being an All-Star?" Ouch on my part! Haha.

I didn't know he refused to go down to the G League. That's a bummer. He needs the court time. He'll be in Europe next year, unless he just crushes at Summer League and some team decides to take a chance on him.

[AussieCeltic]

Did I go through this thread to make sure I didn’t say anything stupid? Yes I did.

Did I say anything stupid? Thankfully no.

Credit to OP though. He still had faith 2 years after creating the thread