Aleksej Pokusevski

[EvanZ]

so, I'm still wondering why EvanZ for example didn't even have Bol as draftable but has Poku in his top 5, i'm trying to reconcile the logic here.

Huh? I had Bol 15 and I have Poku around 10. Not sure what "logic" you're referring to.

My final 2019 board:

https://medium.com/@thecity2/2019-nba-draft-board-tiers-4-5-64651a684d3

[clyde21]

so, I'm still wondering why EvanZ for example didn't even have Bol as draftable but has Poku in his top 5, i'm trying to reconcile the logic here.

Huh? I had Bol 15 and I have Poku around 10. Not sure what "logic" you're referring to.

My final 2019 board:

https://medium.com/@thecity2/2019-nba-draft-board-tiers-4-5-64651a684d3

our conversations were completely different than that board

[EvanZ]

so, I'm still wondering why EvanZ for example didn't even have Bol as draftable but has Poku in his top 5, i'm trying to reconcile the logic here.

Huh? I had Bol 15 and I have Poku around 10. Not sure what "logic" you're referring to.

My final 2019 board:

https://medium.com/@thecity2/2019-nba-draft-board-tiers-4-5-64651a684d3

our conversations were completely different than that board

I mean unlike a lot of people my opinions can evolve. I was very skeptical of Bol early in the season. At the end of the day the only opinions that matter are the last ones you make before Draft Night.

Also where did you get that I have Poku top 5? Pretty sure I have never said that anywhere.

[King Ken]

Huh? I had Bol 15 and I have Poku around 10. Not sure what "logic" you're referring to.

My final 2019 board:

https://medium.com/@thecity2/2019-nba-draft-board-tiers-4-5-64651a684d3

our conversations were completely different than that board

I mean unlike a lot of people my opinions can evolve. I was very skeptical of Bol early in the season. At the end of the day the only opinions that matter are the last ones you make before Draft Night.

Also where did you get that I have Poku top 5? Pretty sure I have never said that anywhere.

Respect. Everyone should improve yearly on this site

[EvanZ]

our conversations were completely different than that board

I mean unlike a lot of people my opinions can evolve. I was very skeptical of Bol early in the season. At the end of the day the only opinions that matter are the last ones you make before Draft Night.

Also where did you get that I have Poku top 5? Pretty sure I have never said that anywhere.

Respect. Everyone should improve yearly on this site

Thanks. It happens in both ways too. For example last year I started low on Okeke but gradually warmed up to him and by the Draft, was very high on him. Conversely, I was probably the highest of anyone on Kabengele early in the season but by the Draft soured on him compared to most. This year I started low on Kira and now I have him top 10, and for a period of time had him top 5. But conversely, I started the year fairly high on Daniel Oturu, and lost interest fairly soon thereafter.

I think if people aren't changing their minds on some prospects, they probably aren't doing enough analysis tbh.

[Hoopz Afrik]

His game tape gives me Turkoglu vibes on offense

[King Ken]

I mean unlike a lot of people my opinions can evolve. I was very skeptical of Bol early in the season. At the end of the day the only opinions that matter are the last ones you make before Draft Night.

Also where did you get that I have Poku top 5? Pretty sure I have never said that anywhere.

Respect. Everyone should improve yearly on this site

Thanks. It happens in both ways too. For example last year I started low on Okeke but gradually warmed up to him and by the Draft, was very high on him. Conversely, I was probably the highest of anyone on Kabengele early in the season but by the Draft soured on him compared to most. This year I started low on Kira and now I have him top 10, and for a period of time had him top 5. But conversely, I started the year fairly high on Daniel Oturu, and lost interest fairly soon thereafter.

I think if people aren't changing their minds on some prospects, they probably aren't doing enough analysis tbh.

Agreed.

[Catchall]

It might be 2 years before this guy's body really fills out. Teams are going to have to be patient with him.

[getrichordie]

It might be 2 years before this guy's body really fills out. Teams are going to have to be patient with him.

Definitely. He's youngest player in the draft. Doesn't mean he still can't be productive, though.

[NO-KG-AI]

My issue when I see guys likethis, Bol, Thon Maker, or whatever other long lanky guy is almost always the same. All the fancy step backs, off the dribble moves, and all that stuff that they are doing against high schoolers or low end college players isn't going to be a part of their game at all at the NBA level. I'm sure some of the guys that are considered stiffs in the NBA now can do some fancy stuff in open workouts or against high school kids, it doesn't mean much, and I think over dribbling makes people see athleticism that isn't really there.

That said, these prototypes that are extremely long with good shooting strokes do have a lot of allure, but they almost always are a lot less fluid and able to drop down and move well laterally, so in the end, all that extra skill ends up getting wasted anyway. You can have all the ball handling skill in the world, but if you're moving at a big center's pace, help defense can cut you off so far away from the rim, that it's just about completely useless.

Can he step away from the basket and guard smaller guys, and if not, is he good enough as a paint defender and rebounder to really make up for that? Can he finish well at the rim and through contact? Can he shoot against close outs?

I like Bol Bol because he was already extremely productive, but I don't think he's a 50% 3 point shooter, like he was in college or even a 40% one at the NBA level. Skeptical of his defense as a whole because he blocks a lot of shots, but I'm having trouble seeing him as a real deterrent against strong guys getting into his body at the basket, or stepping out to guard quicker guys. Likewise on offense, I can't see him being a creator. He can step out and shoot right now, but he needs a lot of strength to be able to finish consistently inside, or even get there to begin with.

Like most guys in this mold, so much of what they become is going to be based on how their frame fills out, and that's kind of hard to predict.

[youngWizzy]

Realistically what team is going to play him big minutes and give him the ball to do what he does for him to even develop?

[Mirotic12]

It might be 2 years before this guy's body really fills out. Teams are going to have to be patient with him.

I'd say more like 5 years at least.

His game tape gives me Turkoglu vibes on offense

Poku isn't going to be running screen roll, or getting a team setup into their offense as a play maker. Although Poku is definitely more perimeter oriented than Van Horn was, that's still a better comparison than Hedo IMO.

Realistically what team is going to play him big minutes and give him the ball to do what he does for him to even develop?

The same team he is on now, Olympiacos' B team, playing in Greek 2nd division. He needs to stay there for awhile, otherwise it would be G-League.

[Catchall]

My issue when I see guys likethis, Bol, Thon Maker, or whatever other long lanky guy is almost always the same. All the fancy step backs, off the dribble moves, and all that stuff that they are doing against high schoolers or low end college players isn't going to be a part of their game at all at the NBA level. I'm sure some of the guys that are considered stiffs in the NBA now can do some fancy stuff in open workouts or against high school kids, it doesn't mean much, and I think over dribbling makes people see athleticism that isn't really there.

That said, these prototypes that are extremely long with good shooting strokes do have a lot of allure, but they almost always are a lot less fluid and able to drop down and move well laterally, so in the end, all that extra skill ends up getting wasted anyway. You can have all the ball handling skill in the world, but if you're moving at a big center's pace, help defense can cut you off so far away from the rim, that it's just about completely useless.

Can he step away from the basket and guard smaller guys, and if not, is he good enough as a paint defender and rebounder to really make up for that? Can he finish well at the rim and through contact? Can he shoot against close outs?

I like Bol Bol because he was already extremely productive, but I don't think he's a 50% 3 point shooter, like he was in college or even a 40% one at the NBA level. Skeptical of his defense as a whole because he blocks a lot of shots, but I'm having trouble seeing him as a real deterrent against strong guys getting into his body at the basket, or stepping out to guard quicker guys. Likewise on offense, I can't see him being a creator. He can step out and shoot right now, but he needs a lot of strength to be able to finish consistently inside, or even get there to begin with.

Like most guys in this mold, so much of what they become is going to be based on how their frame fills out, and that's kind of hard to predict.

He'll need to be the modern power forward. He's going to need to shoot at least 37% on catch-and-shoot 3pt shots. He needs to be able to attack closeouts. He needs to be able to score over smaller defenders on switches. He needs to rebound. Then his passing, facilitating and rim protection are a bonus. His role will be the same as Lauri Markkanen's or Zach Collins'.

Then if he can become a proficient pick-and-roll / pick-and-pop scorer, that's even better.

As it stands, he can already do most of these things. The main question is how he'll handle the speed and physicality of the NBA. He needs strength, toughness and to play with a consistent motor.

[clyde21]

Zach Collins?

Collins is a legit post defender who can protect the rim, he's way more athletic and much stronger than Poku, I don't see any similarities there

Markkanen is also built like a horse

[Catchall]

Zach Collins?

Collins is a legit post defender who can protect the rim, he's way more athletic and much stronger than Poku, I don't see any similarities there

Markkanen is also built like a horse

Those guys are stretch 4s, and that's the role you're drafting Pokusevski to play. Yeah, he needs to add 20 - 25 lbs over the next 3 years.

[clyde21]

Zach Collins?

Collins is a legit post defender who can protect the rim, he's way more athletic and much stronger than Poku, I don't see any similarities there

Markkanen is also built like a horse

Those guys are stretch 4s, and that's the role you're drafting Pokusevski to play. Yeah, he needs to add 20 - 25 lbs over the next 3 years.

they are stretch 4s yes but doesn't mean they are all comparable, Collins for example plays half his minutes at the 5 actually, and defensively he's a completely different player than Poku

[clyde21]

i'd say closest comp is probably Kaminsky or Bender

[Catchall]

i'd say closest comp is probably Kaminsky or Bender

Maybe. I think he moves much better than both those guys.

[patman66]

I think he would be a great pick for the celts at 26 and then stash him for two years.

[getrichordie]

Pokusevski is more fluid. Closer to Durant than Bender or Kaminsky.