Chatting with draft evaluator Brian Schroeder about his fascination with Aleksej “Poku” Pokusevski
2020 Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick Aleksej “Poku” Pokusevski wows with plays you’d typically expect from guards, despite his 7'0" frame. He can heave full-court passes on the money and comfortably drains threes. Though his percentage from deep doesn’t suggest he’s reliable from behind the arc, sinking just 32.1 percent of his threes in 12 games, Poku’s form seems promising for a 7-foot big man. However, he needs to limit pushing his shot when he releases — which has been pointed out in one of his scouting videos.
(Shout out to Forbes’ Brendon Kleen for mentioning in his article that Poku actually recently played shooting guard before undergoing a growth spurt. It could be an explanation as to how he developed as a shooter.)
Poku can be weaponized in different ways as a floor spacer: off-screen slips to the perimeter, pick-and-roll and catch-and-shoot, among others. Poku really radiates, though, as a facilitator: which could be a huge skill that separates him from the standard stretch big. He can perform passes that you just don’t resonate with bigs and he also keeps his head up. Locating teammates is very useful.
If Poku adds more strength (currently hovering around 200 pounds) to eventually be in pick-and-roll situations, he has some potential as a short-roll passer. That’ll increase his versatility with his spacing.
Pokusevski averaged 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks mainly with Olympiacos B. Olymbiacos B is the parent club Olympiacos’ developmental team, as Poku will turn 19 on Dec. 26. People on Twitter have acknowledged Poku’s competition level and its lack of competitiveness, but he also has other questions needing eventual answers.
There aren’t many 7-foot power forwards roaming the NBA’s landscape, so he’ll have to dedicate becoming a center. One of his scouting videos also points to his inability to maintain his man without help. Oklahoma City immensely coveted Pokusevski, evident by their furious attempt to move up this past draft. Oklahoma City took Poku with the 17th pick.
The Thunder weren’t the only massive fans of him and what he could materialize as. Brian Schroeder writes for popular basketball site Dime and dedicates his content on Patreon for draft prospects. In his final big board, Schroeder had Pokusevski at №2. That caught my attention, as I didn’t see Pokusevski that high on Twitter draft evaluators’ boards until then.
Thankfully, Brian took time discussing Poku with me and why he’s bullish on the Serbian big man. You can follow Brian on Twitter at @Cosmis.
Jake Hyman: Why I summoned you for this interview was because you have Poku at №2 on your final board. What did Poku show you that moved him up to just behind LaMelo Ball?
Brian Schroeder: I had Poku at 2 simply because after LaMelo, he showed the most high end skill most consistently (despite how little he played).
JH: Even in a notoriously weaker class, what does that number 2 position mean for him as a potential Thunder contributor?
BS: I’m not sure how much he’ll be able to contribute this year but I think he will get on the court some and will likely shoot fairly well.
JH: What ways could the Thunder utilize him outside of pick-and-pop situations and off-screen slips for three? Is he a 5-out type of center? I rarely saw him in the paint during his highlights.
BS: I don’t think Poku is a center now, and likely not for the next couple of years at least. He’s a great shotblocker, but more on help and weakside rotations. I think if you try and play him at the five in the NBA right now, he would get annihilated by physicality. He’s not an effective interior scorer right now, except on the break.
JH: In what areas would you hope to see him in as a distributor? What’s his upside there?
BS: My hope for Poku as a distributor is simply that he’s allowed to be one, running some secondary pick and rolls and not just stuck in the corner and treated like he can only shoot. After that, just some increased physicality after getting the corner and forcing more exact rotations as a ballhandler is what I want from him. Sort of a broken record, but it’s really his only major flaw for me at this stage.
JH: Do you think he’ll play in the G League or overseas?
BS: He’s going to play in the G-League, provided the G-League exists this season. At least to start. I’ve heard from multiple sources that he’s not waiting overseas anymore unless he absolutely has to.
JH: What’s the main trait you’re hoping he acquires before joining OKC? Will there be reason to worry if he struggles adjusting to heightened competition?
BS: I expect some struggles, again with physicality. He’s not averse to getting hit, he just can’t really absorb it right now.
JH: How would you rate his mobility on the defensive end? Will adding weight compromise his mobility?
BS: I don’t really think adding weight will hurt his mobility, in fact gaining some more weight in his legs could make him even faster. For as well as he moves, I wouldn’t really call Poku explosive, laterally or vertically. He should be able to wear another 20–30 pounds easily.
JH: What’s a realistic positive outcome you could envision for Poku?
BS: I think his ceiling is a combination of Lamar Odom and Rashard Lewis, a terrific transition PG and tall playmaker whose high release and aggressiveness as a shooter make him a matchup nightmare for most other bigs, even in today’s league. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a leading scorer type, but that’s the problem with this draft, there isn’t really that guy anywhere.