The Washington Wizards (13-58) won their second consecutive game, beating the Toronto Raptors 112-109 Saturday night. The main headline from the rare victory from Washington was the debut of rookie Tristan Vukcevic. Vukcevic played only three minutes and tallied one rebound, but what’s the ceiling of the Washington Wizards rookie?
What’s the Ceiling of this Washington Wizards Rookie?
Who is Tristan Vukcevic?
The Washington Wizards drafted the 21-year-old power forward/center with the 42nd pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Vukcevic previously played for Real Madrid (’19-’22) and Partizan Belgrade in Serbia (’22-’24) as part of the Euroleague and ABA. The former second-round pick officially joined the Wizards on March 14th and signed a two-year contract.
Vukcevic stands at seven feet and 230Ib and has the prototypical NBA physique. The Wizards rookie is accredited for using his size and stature to make him a solid inside threat offensively. In the Euro and ABA league collectively, Vukcevic averaged 7.5 points and 3.9 rebounds while having played 14 minutes per game. Vukcevic is also solid as a shooter, as he made 40% (6/15) of his three-point attempts in the EuroLeague and shot 44% (22/50) from beyond the arc in the ABA (’23-’24). His shooting ability allows his presence to bring defenders away from the basket, thus opening the lane.
The Wizards’ newest member was coached by Zeljko Obradovic, arguably the greatest coach in European basketball history. Obradovic is a nine-time EuroLeague champion (five different clubs) and a two-time ABA coach of the year winner (’22-’23), among other accolades. The legendary European coach currently coaches Partizan (’21-present) and is known to run a heavy pick-and-roll offensive scheme.
Furthermore, Vukcevic’s supreme athletic ability and shot-making skills make him formidable in pick-and-roll plays.
How does Vukcevic Fit with the Wizards?
Washington is known for being one of the worst interior teams in the association. In 2023, Washington currently ranks dead-last in opponents points in the paint per game (58.9). In the overall rebounding department, Washington resides in the 28th spot (48.2 per game) and 26th in offensive rebounding (9.4 per game).
Vukcevic is known as a skilled, finesse big man instead of a gritty, physical one. Regardless, at seven feet, the Wizards rookie should be able to aid the Wizards on the glass. If the Serbian center can bulk up and fill out his frame, he could be a solid paint presence in the future.
Offensively, Vukcevic can be a major asset for Washington. The former Partizan center exhibits good off-ball movement, displays mobility, and is a solid shooting threat from a distance.
I didn't know Tristan Vukcevic was capable of murder. pic.twitter.com/1lKl869ZFa
— dustin (@thunderdustin) September 13, 2022
In the clip, Vukcevic sets a soft screen and is momentarily free from his defender. He immediately cuts to the basket for an easy dunk. The former second-round pick displayed a strong feel for the game and his ability to be effective in different types of offenses.
Wizards point guard Tyus Jones is one of the more solid pick-and-roll players in the NBA. Jones currently ranks in the 81.7 percentile as the pick-and-roll ball handler. Additionally, the Wizards rank fourth in the league in transition, making 57.7% of shots in transition. Vukcevic’s attributes of athleticism and ability to run the floor allow him to be effective in that type of offense. The former Memphis Grizzlies point guard is on an expiring contract, but if Jones is extended, he and Vukcevic can mesh well together in the future.
The Last Word On Vukcevic
Vukcevic will have a lot of maturing and adapting to do as he continues his NBA career. Defensively, he is a below-average rim protector and will struggle against bigger and more skilled centers in the league. As mentioned, however, the rookie will have to put on mass to be effective in the trenches.
Currently, Washington has Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes as true centers on its roster. It is unlikely that Vukcevic will be a starter next season, but he can be a high-end asset on the Wizards’ second unit. Whoever is the next head coach in D.C. in 2024, they will have the responsibility to mould the seven-foot giant.
