27
Aleksej Pokusevski Center, Greece
0.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.0 blocks, 0% fg, 0% 3pt, 3 mpg
Pick Via Los Angeles Clippers
Aleksej Pokusevski is one of the rawest prospects in this draft class. The Serbian big stands over 7 feet tall and has played extremely good basketball in FIBA play for his age group. Playing in Greece’s 2nd league at the age of 18, he has seen nearly no playing time, which makes his evaluation almost purely based off of the eye test.
What this eye test tells us is that Pokusevski has the potential to be an extremely well-rounded center in the NBA. The athleticism is nothing to write home about, but his basketball skills have the potential to be quite sharp.
As a ball handler and shooter, especially, he shows very solid promise, but is still putting it all together. His fundamentals are also a bit shaky, as he is still learning the technicalities of the game. The Knicks should’t have a problem using a late-first round pick on a project in hopes that they hit the jackpot on him.
Draft Stock Trend: n/a
28
Josh Green Guard, Arizona
11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 41% fg, 31% 3pt, 31 mpg
Just when Josh Green was back on the upswing offensively, he fell back into a bit of a slump. Offensively, Green has been quite disappointing for a player of his pedigree, but his defense and ceiling will keep his first round hopes alive. As a highly-athletic wing, Green is great in transition and can guard multiple positions with ease, which provides NBA teams with some versatility.
Toronto will be interested in Green mostly for his defensive abilities, but will also look to take his offensive game to the next level. Having a defensive specialist like Green on the roster will be crucial for playoff runs and guarding elite perimeter players.
The upside play could also be great for the Raptors, as if he can find a jumper and consistent offensive game he could quickly elevate his game to become a very good NBA player.
Draft Stock Trend: -7
29
Ashton Hagans Guard, Kentucky
12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.2 blocks, 42% fg, 30% 3pt, 33 mpg
The biggest glaring need for the Los Angeles Lakers currently is a point guard, and although they probably won’t find their 2020-2021 starter with the 29th pick in the draft, they can certainly find one to groom into the eventual starter.
Ashton Hagans is a great fit for the Lakers in that he does not need a lot of shots to be affective. As a traditional point guard, Hagans will focus his attention on passing and playing scrappy defense at the NBA level, which is exactly what L.A. is looking for.
His jump shot is by far the most concerning part of his game, and although the Lakers would certainly like to add more floor spacing, Hagans is a tier ahead of the rest of the lead guards available at the end of the first round. Hagans has the potential to be a great defensive pest for the Lakers as well, which is yet another reason to draft him here.
Draft Stock Trend: -1
30
Devin Vassell Guard, Florida State
13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.1 blocks, 50% fg, 42% 3pt, 29 mpg
Pick Via Milwaukee Bucks
With too many first round selections than they know what to do with, the Boston Celtics will select Devin Vassell with the final pick of the first round. Vassell’s value lies in his three-and-d game, as he is able to guard multiple perimeter positions and shoot the ball well.
Contending teams at the end of the first round tend to prioritize floor spacing, and Vassell is probably the best shooter still on the board.
Vassell’s game is very efficient overall, which is something that the Celtics will be intrigued by, along with many other teams. Being able to do a job efficiently on a contending roster is vital to helping to being a championship to the city, and Vassell could serve as a vital floor spacing and defensive component to push them over the edge.