Sixers NBA Draft profile: Aleksej Pokusevski

Strengths

Spending last season with Olympiacos’ second team in Greece, Pokusevski is the ultimate upside play. He will scare a number of front offices, and it’s borderline irresponsible to call him a potential top-10 pick, even if he’s clearly a top-10 talent. But fortune favors the bold, and someone — maybe even the Sixers — will take that swing.

A true 7-footer, Pokusevski has a skill set more emblematic of the modern-day wing. He can create off the dribble, push the ball up court, or swish off-movement 3s. He is a gifted offensive talent, even if the edges remain extremely rough.

Tune in to the right game, and you can witness Pokusevski galloping up the floor in no more than a handful of steps, doing his best Giannis Antetokounmpo impression. Or, you can witness him using sly dribble moves to evade defenders, work into open space, and hit smooth mid-range floaters.

Pokusevski poses a genuine threat at all three levels. He can space the floor, attack closeouts, and even create for others. He has experience as a pick-and-roll ball handler, and his passing instincts — while not always crisp — should inspire confidence from NBA front offices.

Someone who glides around the court as fluidly as Pokusevski — while listed at seven feet — should immediately grab anyone’s attention. Even in the increasingly athletic NBA, it’s rare to find someone with Pokusevski’s size, lateral quickness, and graceful agility. His shot mechanics are smooth, his long strides purposeful, and his touch pure.

On defense, Pokusevski already has a propensity for blocks and steals. He uses his lanky 7-foot-3 wingspan to break up passing lanes and swat shots. He is mobile enough to defend in space, and athletic enough to protect the weak side. He will need time to grow into his frame, but the foundation of a quality defender is there.

He is not a perfect prospect, and his weaknesses are difficult to ignore. When it comes to raw upside, however, few prospects in this class compete with Poku.