2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Anzejs Pasecniks?

The Good

Anzejs Pasecniks’ highlights are alluring, to say the least.

In an NBA that emphasizes the pick and roll and all its various wrinkles, Pasecniks presents teams with exciting potential. He can pop and hit threes, he can catch lobs attacking the rim, and he can put the ball on the floor and take it inside himself.

His shooting ability has not been explored much yet. He shot well on a limited number of attempts this past season for Herbalife Gran Canaria in Spain with a nice release that could be quicker.

But overall he does not need too much work. That may indicate his success can translate in a larger sample size. But it is impossible to say for sure.

That said, Pasecniks’ bread is really buttered at the rim.

The Kristaps Porzingis comparisons are difficult to avoid. The two Latvian big men are former teammates, are nearly the same height, have a similar build and have similar skills. Both makeup for what they lack in strength with dynamic athleticism.

When it comes to finishing in the pick and roll, catching the ball is just as important as getting the ball to the hoop. Pasecniks has excellent hands, can catch in traffic and get up to the hoop quickly.

Although most of his skills need to flesh out more before he can be a reliable option at the NBA level, Pasecniks may already have what it takes to be a threat in the pick-and-roll or in transition. Like how the Golden State Warriors use JaVale McGee, a rookie or sophomore Pasecniks could come on the floor for short bursts, catch lobs, maybe block a few shots, dunk on everyone and leave before the other team can attack him as a defensive liability.

Fortunately, Pasecniks is still very young and has a chance to end up a better defender than McGee.

If Pasecniks can strengthen his lower body and improve his basketball IQ, there is no reason he cannot be a valuable NBA contributor sooner than later.