What the Oklahoma City Thunder should be excited for: Unicorn 2.0?
A 7-footer with good length and athleticism and who can provide a ton of value as a versatile defender, Aleksej Pokusevski could become the player who surprises everybody this upcoming season.
It wouldn’t hurt for him to put on a few pounds and bulk up, and if he does, can he still maintain his athleticism? Many have compared Poku to Kristaps Porzingis due to them both having very similar skill sets. Poku fits the mold of the next generation of big men entering the league who possess guard-like skills, who is capable of spreading the floor and creating plays.
He rotates well on the defensive end but often gets beat off the dribble by quicker players and outmuscled by stronger players. Poku also needs to become a more efficient shooter and take care of the ball better due to a high turnover rate. Being on the Thunder’s roster should be beneficial for Poku because he will receive the valuable minutes he needs to be on the floor and won’t have to worry about competing for playing time with veteran players.
Poku will only benefit from the experience as the Thunder have nothing to lose by playing him. He very may well be a diamond in the rough who just needs to be polished as Poku possesses the potential to be a special player for years to come.