Sixers NBA Draft profile: Aleksej Pokusevski

Weaknesses

Pokusevski will end up as a top-10 prospect in my book, and again, is someone I would avidly endorse at 21. With that said, he does have some glaring red flags, and could present more of a long-term project than other first round prospects.

Despite his long, agile frame, Pokusevski will no longer have the distinct athletic advantage he currently has once he moves to the NBA. He’s extremely thin, and most NBA athletes will have no problem attacking his chest, forcing contact, and getting Pokusevski into foul trouble.

In addition to lingering concerns about his strength — especially if he wants to play the five — Pokusevski’s defensive flashes are often interspersed with significant lapses in awareness. He’s not the sharpest as far as rotations and closeouts go, and will need to improve his fundamentals at the next level.

While Pokusevski will create plenty of chaos with his length, athletes who can overpower him at the rim, or shake him loose on the perimeter, will negate some of the advantages a 7-foot-3 wingspan provides on paper. In short, his defense is more potential than impact at this point. You cannot expect immediate two-way success.

Some of Pokusevski’s strength issues will manifest on offense as well. He’s not someone who can take advantage of size mismatches in the post. Not yet, at least. He can shoot the lights out, and that is a very important translatable skill, but it’s fair to question his ability to work in traffic and finish through contact inside. Some of his more appealing long-term skills will need to coincide with a higher capacity for physicality.

Luckily for the Sixers, or any team who drafts him, Pokusevski is 18 years old for another four months. He has time to grow.