New Orleans Pelicans: Aleksej Pokusevski is Draft and Stash Option

With a ton of young talent and no need to hurry, the New Orleans Pelicans can take a risk on a high-ceiling project in the second round.

The New Orleans Pelicans have the best young core in the NBA and a chest of draft picks, including three in the second round of the 2020 NBA draft.

Not a bad spot to be in.

Since the Pelicans don’t need immediate help from those second rounders, they can use the picks to take flyers on high-ceiling players who might not be ready.

This is traditionally where teams will use picks on international players who they can allow to develop overseas in what is often referred to as “draft-and-stash.”

Though many of these players never see the NBA, there have been some notable successes, such as Manu Ginobili, Andrei Kirilenko and Nikola Jokic.

With the Euro leagues getting much better over the years, young players can get reps against competitive grown ups and build their skills while NBA teams maintain their draft rights.

The New Orleans Pelicans are in prime draft-and-stash position in the 2020 NBA Draft, as they own the 39th, 42nd and 60th picks in the second round.

It’s possible they will try to package those picks to move up and grab someone they really like, but it is more likely that they will draft a few projects that they can develop in the G-League or overseas.

This is the time for the New Orleans Pelicans to swing for the fences on players who have high-ceiling talent that needs a few years to incubate.

Aleksej Pokusevski is one such player.

As a 7-footer with a weak frame but plenty of skills, Pokusevski fits the profile of a guy the New Orleans Pelicans could stash while he develops.

On paper, Pokusevski could be the kind of big that would fit in well with Zion Williamson, but he has a few glaring weaknesses as well. Let’s take al look.