A bit of a hot take — I know. Aleksej Pokusevski is rarely seen as a lottery pick, but he’s too talented and too unique not to earn consideration this high. In fact, the Hawks should consider him a top target if he is available at No. 6, which he will be. In this instance, he should be the pick.
Pokusevski is a true 7-footer who moves and shoots like a wing. He’s light on his feet, and his shot mechanics are reminiscent of the NBA’s most potent perimeter shooters. He can curl around screens and shoot on the move, or attack closeouts and hit pull-up jumpers. His floater is money, too.
On defense, there’s inherent upside in a long, mobile 7-footer who can stick with smaller players on the perimeter. With a slim frame, Pokusevski must undergo serious physical growth before he can maximize his skill set in a NBA setting. With that said, in a relatively weak draft class, he’s worth the gamble this high.