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Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Draft 2020 Prospect Profile: Aleksej Pokusevski

By Zach Lung

There are no pictures of Aleksej Pokusevski, so here is head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
There are no pictures of Aleksej Pokusevski, so here is head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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Okay, back to head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves because there are no Poku pictures. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Aleksej Pokusevski NBA Draft 2020 Prospect Profile: Weaknesses

The biggest question surrounding Aleksej Pokusevski will be figuring out how and if he fits into the current NBA landscape.

Pokusevski is extremely lightweight and skinny, which will result in him taking a beating at the top levels of competition. At just 195 pounds, he will enter the league a full 25 pounds lighter than any other current player 7’0” or taller; 20 year-old Bol Bol of the Denver Nuggets is currently listed at 220 pounds.

Many teams will look to exploit Pokusevski’s lack of strength by attacking him in the post with a strong-bodied center. As a result, he could quickly become unplayable as a post defender despite his shot-blocking abilities.

Like Bol Bol in Denver, Pokusevski’s unique frame and skill set may be better suited at the small forward position rather than center. Unfortunately his quickness looks to be below-average, compounding his weaknesses on the defensive end. He will have to prove to teams that he has enough lateral quickness to defend at a competent level on the perimeter or he will risk finding himself stuck in the G League.

Perhaps Pokusevski’s greatest weakness is his lack of one exceptional skill that is guaranteed to translate to the NBA. His shooting is streaky, his playmaking can be risky, and his post game is far too reliant on finesse.

The array of skills is intriguing but it hard to see a path to immediate impact in year one. Pokusevski is a true project that carries with him the risk that he never plays meaningful minutes in his NBA career.