Anzejs Pasecniks NBA Draft
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Anzejs Pasecniks – 7’2” Center, Latvia, 21 Years Old
Anzejs Pasecniks is a center from Latvia, who is projected to be a late first-round pick. This past season playing for Gran Canaria in Spain, he averaged 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. The lanky Latvian shot 66.2% from the field and 60.7% from the line. He may not shoot the three ball often, but last season he shot 63.6% from beyond the arc. He’s an intriguing prospect, who brings great size and length. The 21 year old will likely stay in Spain for a short while, before eventually coming to the NBA.
Strengths
Standing at 7’2”, size and length is his selling point. Not a great jumper, he relies on his height and fluid action when attacking the rim. He has great hands for someone so young. Along with those hands he has good touch around the basket. The Latvian will enter the league with International experience. Playing for the Latvia youth team, he helped his team reach the semi-finals of the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. Averaging 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds, he would be named to the All-Tournament Team. Possessing the size and length of a strong defender, his potential in that area is very good.
Weaknesses
He needs to get stronger. At 230 pounds, he needs to add some muscle. Otherwise, players in the NBA will take advantage of his slight frame. It’s no good being 7’2”, if you can be pushed around in the paint. His lack of strength leads to poor rebounding numbers. The 3.3 rebounds with Gran Canaria was a perfect example. If your being pushed around in Europe, then the NBA will be even worse.
Passing is a key element to being successful as a big in the NBA. This is one aspect of his game that needs improvement. He averaged just 0.3 assists in Spain, along with 0.6 turnovers. The passing problem leads to his next issue. In the post, his game is basic to say the least. He fails to use his size to his advantage, with strength and passing playing a role. Lacking the strength to bully his way to the basket, but at the same time failing to pass the ball back out to the perimeter. He may be set to be a first-round pick, but there is still a lot of work to do if he is to fulfill his potential.
NBA Potential
Pasecniks strikes many as a future role player in the association. His great size and length will draw interest from teams. However, with so many areas in need of work, his potential at the next level will be limited, unless major progress is made. If teams believe his flaws outweigh his potential, he may drop into the second-round. However, his ability away from the basket could lead to a team taking a chance on him in the first. Pasecniks is a modern day big, but his chances of being more than a role player are as slim as he is.
NBA Player Comparison
Now, the easy comparison is New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis. However, that’s not a true comparison. Porzingis has a chance to be an All-Star, something Pasecniks will likely never do. One player who comes to mind is New Orleans Pelicans big man Donatas Motiejunas. Known for being a solid role player, Motiejunas plays his role well. Pasecniks can be that sort of player in the NBA. If he fills in the gaps in his game, he can be one of those solid role players at the next level. Who ever drafts Pasecniks, is taking on a project, a project that could potentially bring great reward.
Expect Anzejs Pasecniks to land between 25-30 on draft night, and be sure to stay updated with our complete coverage of the 2017 NBA Draft!
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