Drafting Tristan Vukcevic with the no. 42 pick
Grade: B+
Drafting an unathletic Serbian big man in the second round of the draft has usually worked out for teams, just ask the Denver Nuggets. But finding rotation-level players at this stage of the draft is famously difficult, so it’s hard to judge any second-round draft selection.
Tristan Vukcevic has a good size and feel for the game. He has athletic limitations but his skill level makes him an intriguing prospect. He has shown an impressive level of finesse in his game during the Las Vegas Summer League.
Vukcevic can pass, shoot and dribble. Offensively, he has all the necessary building blocks to be a contributor. The question marks about him are on the defensive end. He isn’t necessarily strong, physical, or quick on that end, potentially capping his upside.
Yet, with the 42nd-overall selection, you could do much worse. The modern game is all about putting as much skill at every position as you can. And the Serbian big man certainly helps with that. If the Wizards can develop him into a rotation-level center in the NBA, this will end up being an incredible draft pick. But expecting that from any second-round pick is a tall order.