Ukrainian big man for the Kings??

[CruzDude]

Petri went to the Ukraine on his last Euro scouting trip. Based on the following insider info from pundit Chad Ford today, it is likely he went to see Kyrylo Fesenko. Who you ask? Why 20 year old 7 1-1/2 270 lb Kyrlo, of course!! But still pretty raw and projected as a mid second rounder.


From Chad Ford today:

• Ukrainian big man Kyrylo Fesenko has decided to stay in the draft, according to his agent, Jason Levien.

Fesenko is getting quite a bit of buzz right now, and he's a sleeper for the late first round.

He measured 7-1½ in shoes at a recent workout, had a 7-foot-4 wingspan and weighed 270 pounds. He's an excellent athlete with a low-post game resembling that of Andris Biedrins.

He's already worked out for the Kings and the Bulls, and he has upcoming workouts with the Suns, Clippers, Sixers, Rockets and Hawks.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Yup, he's apparently improved quite a bit over the last year. Improved jump shot and low post game. Although I'm skeptical of the 270 lbs. I hope we get him.

 

[fnordius]

Really, really late first round... a few mock drafts have him at 27-30, most put him in the second round.

I don't think he's the next Nowitzki or anything, but he might be the next Biedrins. I'd be happy to see him on the roster, but that'd require a trade, because I really don't see him going at #10.

 

[BMiller52]

We need a late 1st/a few early 2nds to get some of these guys. I would love to get this guy. He apparently has a decent post game already, some athleticism, he's tall, and Miller could teach him how to pass well. Not saying he'll be a star but eventually I could maybe see him being an 8/8/2/2 guy with decent post D or something like that.

 

[ParniValjak]

I would be very very happy if we got a latish 1st round pick and get Kyrylo Fesenko. Big, athletic and energetic. Just what we need. He is rawish but there is a LOT there to work with.

If by some miracle Bradan Wright or Yi Jianlian fall down to us at 10 and we get a latish 1st round pick and get Fesenko, it would be a very good draft for us IMHO.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

I would be very very happy if we got a latish 1st round pick and get Kyrylo Fesenko. Big, athletic and energetic. Just what we need. He is rawish but there is a LOT there to work with.

If by some miracle Bradan Wright or Yi Jianlian fall down to us at 10 and we get a latish 1st round pick and get Fesenko, it would be a very good draft for us IMHO.

i agree

 

[BritishColumbia]

I spoke with my friends from Ukraine a month ago and they told me that Fesenko is an absolutely raw player (I wrote something about it two weeks ago). They do not understand why people are so high on him in America. He is not even close to be the best in a very weak Ukrainian league. He would have been "killed" (benched) this year in every serious European league. Pecherov (from last year's draft) is many times better. They do not believe that he will have any noticeable success in America.

 

[fnordius]

Probably the same reasons Saer Sene was a lottery pick, and Thabeet may well be -- we are desperate for athletic big guys, even if they can't play basketball well yet.

I really have no idea about Fesenko, other than the (mostly favorable) things written about him in a few draft sites. I didn't even think of him when I heard that Petrie was going to the Ukraine, I was really kind of surprised that Fesenko seems to have been the reason why. Hopefully all the workouts will establish what potential he does or does not have.

 

[SacTownKid]

Actually the word on why Petrie went to the Ukraine is that he was negotiating a long term max level deal to bring back Vitaly Potapenko. You see it turns out he is exactly what we have been looking for this whole time! Get 'er done Geoff!

 

[zo0mmike]

Actually the word on why Petrie went to the Ukraine is that he was negotiating a long term max level deal to bring back Vitaly Potapenko. You see it turns out he is exactly what we have been looking for this whole time! Get 'er done Geoff!

I see it now.. So the Kings really were tanking by benching Potapenko the whole season!

 

[OptimusRhyme]

He sounds like the Big-Man we need, Petrie get another pick please!

 

[Bricklayer]

I spoke with my friends from Ukraine a month ago and they told me that Fesenko is an absolutely raw player (I wrote something about it two weeks ago). They do not understand why people are so high on him in America. He is not even close to be the best in a very weak Ukrainian league. He would have been "killed" (benched) this year in every serious European league. Pecherov (from last year's draft) is many times better. They do not believe that he will have any noticeable success in America.

NBA would be interested in him just on size alone I would imagine. And potential of course. May be many guys better now, but if they are topped out, the young guy who might one day exceed them could be of more interest.

Wonder if Geoff, or whoever drafts him, might be pondering the San Antonio maneuver of drafting him, and then letting him continue to develop overseas until he's ready for the jump?

 

[ParniValjak]

NBA would be interested in him just on size alone I would imagine. And potential of course. May be many guys better now, but if they are topped out, the young guy who might one day exceed them could be of more interest.

Wonder if Geoff, or whoever drafts him, might be pondering the San Antonio maneuver of drafting him, and then letting him continue to develop overseas until he's ready for the jump?

I personally think that would be a smart thing to do. Get him to sign with a club that is known for developing their young talent and make sure his contract doesn't have some ridicilous buy out. Leave him over in europe for a couple of years to develop further until he is ready to contribute and bring him over then.

In the mean time, go the full rebuild mode, collect young talent and draft pick along the way and when Fesenko is ready to come over, we could have a Pedja - JWill situation where you 2 instant boosts in one year for next to nothing.