NBA Draft Profiles: Nikola Vucevic, USC

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Stats: 17.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 34.9% 3PT

Age: 20, junior

Size:

• Listed: 7'0", 260 lb
• Official: 6'10.25" (no shoes), 6'11.75" (with shoes), 7'4.5" (wingspan), 9'4.5" (reach), 260 lb

Strengths: Perhaps the biggest strength -- or, rather, the best attribute for this draft -- for Vucevic is his size. At a shade under seven feet with a nearly 7'5" wingspan and checking in at 260 lb, Vucevic is that only player in this draft with the size of a true NBA center. Still just 20 years old, he looks it as well. He's got a fairly chiseled frame and wears that 260 lb well. Vucevic also has a well-rounded offensive skill-set. He's got a soft touch on his jumper with range extending to the college three point line. He's also deadly in the mid-range, which makes him an ideal pick-and-pop candidate in the NBA given his size. His back-to-the-basket arsenal needs some work, as does his ability to make a play when he isn't open on the catch-and-shoot jumper, but that will come with time -- he's only 20 years old. In addition to his offensive arsenal, Vucevic is an excellent rebound that can carve out space in the paint. He's not a great shot blocker or defender on the perimeter due to mediocre explosiveness and lateral quickness, but he makes up for that with desire and his length.

Weaknesses: The biggest weakness in Vucevic's game right now is that he is a below the rim player. His max vert was measured at just 25", meaning that while he is the biggest player in this year's draft class, he is also the worst leaper. Given his size and strength, that won't be too much of an issue, but it will hinder his ability to defend the pick-and-roll and guard quick, face-up big men like Amare Stoudamire. That will likely be his biggest obstacle to overcome in the NBA. Vucevic also needs to improve the consistency on his perimeter. He got better as the season went on, but 34.9% from three is not going to cut it in the league.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Mehmut Okur or Luis Scola with a better jumper. Vucevic can one day be a starter in the NBA, and with offensive skill-set he can probably be a 15-18 point scorer if he continues to develop. The question will be whether he become more of a perimeter oriented player or a guy that bangs in the paint. Either way, this 20 year old has a nice upside.


• Worst Case Scenario: Draft Express says David Andersen, while Bjorn is saying Kosta Koufus. Either way, I think you can interpret it to mean that, if Vucevic's game doesn't develop the way many expect it too, then he'll simply be a bench player in the league or a guy that ends up heading back to Europe.

Outlook: Vucevic has promise. He has the size and the length for an NBA center which helps make up for his lack of NBA athleticism. He rebounds the ball well and has the perimeter skills to one day be a serious pick-and-pop threat. Beyond the issue of quickness, Vucevic has another question mark, one that plagues every Euro big man before the draft -- physicality. He may be checking in at a well-defined 260 lb, but Vucevic still had an issue will getting backed down by opponents in the Pac-10 this past season. Regardless, Vucevic should have a long professional hoops career, whether it is in the States or abroad.

Draft Range: Mid to Late 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Vucevic is one of the more intriguing players in the draft. He's got a huge 7-foot-4 wingspan and moves pretty well. He's a legit 265 pounds, and Vachet has really gotten his body chiseled. While he's not going to be the most explosive big man in the draft, he's one of the toughest and most accomplished. A number of NBA GMs project him as a first-round pick. He's still on the bubble on our Big Board, but he's a guy who could really come in and blow up at the Chicago pre-draft camp if he continues to work on his explosiveness."


• Draft Express: "Vucevic's continued development with his perimeter shot is crucial for his stock, and the steps he's taken with his improved shooting, strength, and toughness this season are all very helpful. Continuing to work on his pick-and-pop game, becoming a better defender, and maximizing his strength and athleticism should be among his priorities. At just 20 years old, ... seeing how he's improved each of his three seasons so far, he could certainly play himself into draft discussions with continued improvement, and he already has a nice foundation with his rebounding and perimeter shooting."


• Swish Scout: "Solid power forward prospect with the ability to play with his back to the basket, hit the face up jumper, rebound at a high rate, and change shots in the lane with his length. Vucevic isn’t a great athlete and needs to play a hint tougher in the paint, but he’s a standout big man with the chance to be a nice NBA post player because of his physical gifts and mature skill set."

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