[b]18. Dallas Mavericks[/b]
[b]Aleksej Pokusevski | 7-0 center | 18 years old | Olympicacos B[/b]
Maybe this is me just reading too much into the international scouting scene. The Mavericks are about as plugged in there as any team across the NBA, led by Tony Ronzone. It’s hard for me to imagine a world where, in a relatively strong international draft that is likely to see five players from overseas taken in the first round, the Mavericks wouldn’t get involved in the party. There are a couple of two-way wings available that could appeal to the Mavericks like Saddiq Bey or Josh Green. But I’m going to assume that they go home run with the first draft pick, then maybe try to do something a bit more solid at No. 31.
Here, Pokusevski would certainly be a big swing. A Serbian-Greek center for Olympiacos’ second team, Pokusevski is a 7-footer with legitimately terrific shooting potential and terrific athleticism. He is seen as an interesting long-term play as the league continues to look for floor spacing from the frontcourt. He moves like a wing and has a 7-3 wingspan. He can pass the ball at a high level. In the second division Greek league, he averaged 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and over a steal and a block in just 23 minutes per game. At that level, he’s the most athletic player on the court and takes advantage of it, even if his relative inefficiency isn’t terrific. But what does this very skinny big man’s game look like when he’s not the most athletic guy? Honestly, I have no idea, but I hope he goes to a situation like Dallas that will develop him right so that we can find out.
[b]31. Dallas Mavericks (via GSW)[/b]
[b]Cassius Stanley | 6-6 wing | 20 years old, freshman | Duke[/b]
The Mavericks are in a fascinating space right now as they enter their contention window with Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic. They do tend to draft older in the second round, but I wonder if they’d be willing to take a flyer on someone who really fills a need athletically on their roster. Stanley’s athleticism is a total joke. He’s got a shot to win a dunk contest one day, and he runs the floor extremely well. He also gets good use out of that athleticism on the court because he plays hard consistently.The jumper remains a worry and Stanley will need to rep it out to get rid of a hitch that hinders his consistency. But as an athletic defensive player who gets out in transition, this might be a really strong fit with Doncic in the backcourt who can take on tough assignments while also being a running mate.
https://theathletic.com/1926516/2020/07/...draft-day/
I am fine with the first pick but have no idea on the second, looks like a reach for 31.
[b]Aleksej Pokusevski | 7-0 center | 18 years old | Olympicacos B[/b]
Maybe this is me just reading too much into the international scouting scene. The Mavericks are about as plugged in there as any team across the NBA, led by Tony Ronzone. It’s hard for me to imagine a world where, in a relatively strong international draft that is likely to see five players from overseas taken in the first round, the Mavericks wouldn’t get involved in the party. There are a couple of two-way wings available that could appeal to the Mavericks like Saddiq Bey or Josh Green. But I’m going to assume that they go home run with the first draft pick, then maybe try to do something a bit more solid at No. 31.
Here, Pokusevski would certainly be a big swing. A Serbian-Greek center for Olympiacos’ second team, Pokusevski is a 7-footer with legitimately terrific shooting potential and terrific athleticism. He is seen as an interesting long-term play as the league continues to look for floor spacing from the frontcourt. He moves like a wing and has a 7-3 wingspan. He can pass the ball at a high level. In the second division Greek league, he averaged 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and over a steal and a block in just 23 minutes per game. At that level, he’s the most athletic player on the court and takes advantage of it, even if his relative inefficiency isn’t terrific. But what does this very skinny big man’s game look like when he’s not the most athletic guy? Honestly, I have no idea, but I hope he goes to a situation like Dallas that will develop him right so that we can find out.
[b]31. Dallas Mavericks (via GSW)[/b]
[b]Cassius Stanley | 6-6 wing | 20 years old, freshman | Duke[/b]
The Mavericks are in a fascinating space right now as they enter their contention window with Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic. They do tend to draft older in the second round, but I wonder if they’d be willing to take a flyer on someone who really fills a need athletically on their roster. Stanley’s athleticism is a total joke. He’s got a shot to win a dunk contest one day, and he runs the floor extremely well. He also gets good use out of that athleticism on the court because he plays hard consistently.The jumper remains a worry and Stanley will need to rep it out to get rid of a hitch that hinders his consistency. But as an athletic defensive player who gets out in transition, this might be a really strong fit with Doncic in the backcourt who can take on tough assignments while also being a running mate.
https://theathletic.com/1926516/2020/07/...draft-day/
I am fine with the first pick but have no idea on the second, looks like a reach for 31.