New Orleans Pelicans: 3 players to avoid in the NBA Draft

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Players to avoid, Aleksej Pokusevski

Aleksej Pokusevski

Ok, ok, I know, I’ve actually advocated that the Pelicans draft Pokusevski in the past and I stand by it.

If they want to go for a guy who is a potential unicorn, if they want to take a big chance that could pay off, then sure draft this guy.

At the high end, he’s Jokic but quicker with a better jumpshot, and that is the type of talent that you take risks to get.

But he has never played against anything even close to NBA competition, looks like an orange on a toothpick and is one of the youngest players in the draft.

Any team that thinks he is going to come in and play right away is fooling themselves, as NBA defenders will absolutely eat this guy alive as skinny as he is.

Can he put on enough muscle and girth not to get thrown around like a rag doll? If so, this guy could very well be the most impactful player in the draft.

But the Pelicans want players who are ready now, not three years from now, and they also need players who can defend their position, which Pokusevski may never be able to do.

He is the riskiest player projected to go in the lottery, as he has the unique skill set and size to be the next great international player, but also has huge bust potential as a guy who does not yet have an NBA body.

Ceiling: Nikola Jokic

Floor: Darko Milicic

All three of these players are likely to get drafted in the lottery, as all three have tantalizing potential. But all three also have huge red flags that the New Orleans Pelicans should try to avoid.