Chicago Bulls: 4 2020 draft targets worth trading down for
24. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Forward. Aleksej Pokusevski. Serbia/Olympiacos B. 2. player
ESPN: 24
Tankathon: 10
The Ringer: 17
Among the next batch of potent international NBA Draft prospects is the Serbian 7-foot and 200 pound forward Aleksej Pokusevski. Spending most of the last two seasons playing overseas with Olympiacos B in EuroLeague, Pokusevski did get to see a decent level of competition playing alongside some familiar faces to NBA fans.
That group of former NBA players and college stars includes former Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss, Vanderbilt Commodores guard Wade Baldwin, and Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ.
However, the level of competition is only one of the multiple reasons why Pokusevski is becoming an increasingly popular NBA Draft prospect among fans and the media. He’s a very versatile and talented offensive creator for a big man. He’s also a smooth shooter that can effectively distribute the ball along with the ability to hit the glass hard on both ends of the floor.
But the projections for Pokusevski among various NBA Draft media outlets are still all over the place. Some have him out as a possible mid-20’s pick in the first round, and others have him picked as high as the lottery. His draft stock is likely to remain very volatile until we get close to the lottery and the draft itself, in August and October respectively.
Another appealing point to Pokusevski is the fact that he’s the youngest projected first or early second round prospect in this draft class. He won’t turn 19 years old until December of this year. He’s got a very high ceiling, and could be a good insurance policy for the Bulls if they aren’t completely sold on what Markkanen brings to the table over the long haul.