New Orleans Pelicans: Aleksej Pokusevski is Draft and Stash Option

How Aleksej Pokusevski fits on the New Orleans Pelicans

Zion is developing into one of the most dominant post players in the NBA, so it is logical to try to surround him with guys who can make plays away from the rim.

Nicolo Melli has had success as a stretch-four in this system, and Pelicans’ shooters will only get more open looks as Zion gets better as a passer and lead ball handler.

The New Orleans Pelicans will be looking for bigs who can draw larger defenders away from the hoop, especially after the Dallas Mavericks gave the rest of the NBA a blueprint for how to slow down Zion in the lane.

The Mavs used taller defenders who backed off Zion, daring him to shoot, and then held their ground when he tried to drive into the lane.

They challenged his shot with double teams off the weak side and the Pelicans were unable to make them pay.

The New Orleans Pelicans need consistent shooting from a stretch-four so that teams can’t just pack the lane with two bigs to stop Zion.

Pokusevski projects as a guy who could be that stretch-four, a potential Danilo Gallinari type who can knock down open 3-pointers and make plays out of the pick and roll.

When you see how Gallinari has thrived alongside point guard Chris Paul, it might give the New Orleans Pelicans the idea of developing a long wing of their own.

Pokusevski already has the passing, ball handling and playmaking, so if he can develop a reliable long-range shot he’d be tough to stop in a pick-and-roll with Lonzo Ball.

Pokusevski is never going to be a traditional banging power forward in the NBA, but he could potentially be an elite shot blocker off the weak side, especially if the New Orleans Pelicans have a defensive big who can protect the rim.

His timeline also fits well with the time period when the Pelicans will need an injection of cheap, young talent, as their Big Three will likely be on max contracts that will need to be supplemented with low-cost production.

Pokusevski has enough intriguing skills to get drafted in the first round, though teams may shy away from a player with so little experience.

But he has the high-ceiling potential the New Orleans Pelicans should shoot for with their later picks, as it would not kill the team if he never panned out.

The Pelicans will have a lot of options in the second round, but should take a risk on a potential unicorn.

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