The Washington Wizards are about to get a much-needed addition to their big man rotation. 2023 second-round pick Tristan Vukcevic will join the team following his buyout with Serbia’s KK Partizan Belgrade, per Djordje Matic of Meridian Sport. The contract buyout was orchestrated by the Wizards as part of Vukcevic’s NBA exit clause.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Wizards are signing Vukcevic to a two-year deal.
The Washington Wizards are signing 7-footer Tristan Vukcevic of Serbia on a two-year deal, sources tell ESPN. Vukcevic — a 2023 second-round draft pick — will join Wizards for final weeks of this season out of Partizan of Belgrade. pic.twitter.com/71ZqFbKftL
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 13, 2024
Tristan Vukcevic to Join Wizards as Season Draws to a Close
Vukcevic’s buyout sets the stage for Washington to get an up-close look at the big man over the final month of the regular season. One of the latest in a long line of Serbian prospects to benefit from the rise of Sombor native Nikola Jokic —considered the league’s top player —he heads to D.C. with plenty of anticipation for his NBA debut.
Upon being drafted, Vukcevic quickly earned compliments from Wizards general manager Will Dawkins. As Dawkins was hired by D.C. last offseason, the now 21-year-old is one of his inaugural draft picks.
“Young, 20 years old. He’s played internationally, I feel like I’ve watched him for a long time now, since he was a youth as well,” Dawkins said of Vukcevic, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washingon. “With him, [7-foot-0], skilled, can pass, can shoot.”
Former NBA center Marc Gasol also took a liking to Vukcevic, contacting the young big to offer him advice on transitioning to the NBA, Hughes reports in a different story.
“He just called me, he said he loves my game and wanted to give me advice,” Vukcevic said of his conversation with Gasol.
“He just told me the differences in the NBA and how life is in the NBA… how to get adjusted. Whenever I’m wondering or have any specific questions, to feel free to always call him.”
“I feel grateful for that,” Vukcevic finishes. “He’s a legend.”
He Pops Out on Film
It’s impossible not to come away with a positive impression of Vukcevic after watching his film.
Physically, Vukcevic looks every bit of 7-foot-0. Yet, he’s a fluid and coordinated center that played well against American athletes.
To that point, one of the primary concerns when drafting European prospects is whether they can keep up with the speed of the NBA. Nobody will confuse Vukcevic with a 21-year-old LeBron James. Nonetheless, he looks quite capable of playing alongside some of the world’s top athletes.
That being said, it’s the skill level that truly stands with Vukcevic. A three-level scorer, he’s not only able to space the floor out to the 3-point line but can knockdown midrange pull-ups as well. Inside, Vukcevic is also a post-up threat, his feathery touch often demonstrated on post fadeaways.
With his physical tools and scoring instincts, he’s tough to guard in the open court. In the halfcourt, Vukcevic is a potential pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop weapon. With his 3-point ability, teams will close out harder on him than most big men. This creates driving opportunities that Vukcevic can then exploit with his length and athleticism.
On the defensive end, Vukcevic may not be the most imposing shot-blocker, but his efforts are respectable.
It’s All About Timing
At 11-54, the Wizards are not only eliminated from playoff contention but have the worst record in the NBA.
As a result, they’re in the position to give minutes to relatively unproven prospects like Vukcevic. That the Wizards traded away a promising center in Daniel Gafford, who averaged 27.1 minutes per game, also helps. With that being said, Vukcevic always appeared as if he would play with the Wizards at some point. Nonetheless, Washington rightly sees this upcoming stretch of games as the ideal window to check his progress, as it will have no bearing on their season.
