Aleksej Pokusevski has garnered a lot of buzz lately. He’s a supremely skilled 7-footer who naturally appeals to sensibilities of modern-day GMs. He shoots like a guard, he’s light on his feet, and there’s genuine defensive potential buried beneath a slew of concerns. He’s almost universally projected as a first-round pick.
The Celtics don’t need to roster three first-round picks with guaranteed contracts. It would sense to stash at least one, and Pokusevski is the highest-rated international prospect who is expected to return overseas next season.
There’s so much to like here. Pokusevski is not only a dynamic shooter, but also a skilled playmaker who can handle the ball in spurts. He has a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he can move his feet on the perimeter, and he could — in time — become of the most dynamic weapons in this class. On the other hand, he’s still extremely raw and he weighs in at a meager 200 pounds. He needs to bulk up.