2020 NBA Draft: Pelican Debrief Big Board 1.0
By Nick Alvarez
50. UDOKA AZUBUIKE / BIG / KANSAS
Blunt force trauma as a human being the best way to describe Udoka Azubuike. Standing a 7’0″ with a 7’7″ wingspan he likes playing an old-school game built on bullying his way into the paint to for easy scores. Azubuike is also a major rebound chaser on both ends of the floor averaging 10.5 rebounds a game this past season. His 2.6 blocks per game show his ability as a rim-protector but questions about his mobility and offense in the modern NBA hold him down.
Pro Comparisons: Omer Asik, Clint Capela, Eddy Curry
49. DANIEL OTURU / BIG / MINNESOTA
Daniel Oturu is another blast from the past big man. He stands at 6’10” and prefers to play an inside game from the post on offense. Oturu ultimately gets some looks from teams because he has good mobility for a big man allowing him to be an excellent roll-man and solid interior defender. His biggest question marks will be if he can continue to grow his perimeter game and adjust to an NBA that doesn’t run many post-ups.
Pro Comparison: Bobby Portis
48. PAYTON PRITCHARD / GUARD / OREGON
An upperclassmen guard who shows great intangibles, Payton Pritchard’s biggest selling point is his offense. Pritchard knows how to run an offense and is great when making plays in pick-and-roll action. As a scorer, he’s a dangerous shooting threat with good mechanics and a 41% career average from deep. Lack of size and defensive ability holds Pritchard down but he could become an intriguing guard in a rotation.
Pro Comparisons: TJ McConnell, Shabazz Napier
47. ELIJAH HUGHES / WING / SYRACUSE
A transfer and redshirt junior at Syracuse, Elijah Hughes made quite the impact on coach Jim Boeheim. Hughes’ best trait is his hustle. On offense, he’s all about moving as a cutter and attacking the rim. His defensive instincts are solid and with the NBA putting more emphasis on zone defense his experience running the Syracuse zone will give him added value.
Pro Comparisons: Iman Shumpert, Malik Beasley
46. ALEKSEJ POKUSEVSKI / BIG / OLYMPIACOS B (SERBIA)
Aleksej Pokusevski is a player that a lot of evaluators have much higher, but I think he has major bust potential. Pokusevski stands at 7′ tall and can knock down three-point shots but that doesn’t instantly make him Kristaps Porzingis. Pokusevski has a very thin frame which he will need to improve if he wants to make it in the NBA but the mobility, shooting, and passing abilities are there if a team can work with him.
Pro Comparisons: Dragan Bender, Taller Toni Kukoc