Denver Nuggets Power Rankings: No. 18, Oleksiy Pecherov
The Denver Nuggets’ preseason roster includes 19 players, and the team will try to figure out which 15 of them deserves a shot during the regular season throughout the team’s seven-game exhibition slate.
But, for now, how do these players stack up? We polled our staff writers and editor at Nugg Love to get a consensus power ranking of every player on the roster, and we’ll be releasing one player each day from October 5 to 23, starting from No. 19 and finishing at No. 1.
Oleksiy Pecherov was a first-round selection (No. 18 pick) of the Washington Wizards in 2006. The Ukranian big man has gone from stints in the United States to pretty much everywhere in Europe and now finds himself in Denver trying to earn a regular-season roster spot. Can he do it? Let’s see.
Who is Oleksiy Pecherov?
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Pecherov, who stands 7’0″ tall and weights 232 pounds, started playing professional basketball at the age of 16 in Ukraine, so he was already a veteran by the time he was drafted to the NBA at 20 in 2006.
After one more season in Ukraine, Pecherov signed with the Wizards and played two unspectacular seasons there. He averaged 3.6 points per game both seasons in a limited role, before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the summer of 2009. There, he played slightly more minutes and averaged 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Since 2010, Pecherov’s career has taken him overseas. The now 29-year-old’s most recent stop was with BC Kalev/Cramo based in Estonia. He averaged 15.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in just 19.0 minutes per game.
Strengths
Like many European big men, Pecherov and ball-handling skills and a shooting stroke that extends out to the three-point line. He’s pretty mobile on offense and can occasionally do some nice things with the ball in the post, whether a turnaround jumper or a decisive face-up move.
Pecherov certainly isn’t gun-shy, so you know he won’t let the opponents off easy if they give him a somewhat decent opportunity to score.
Although he isn’t necessarily strong, he’s bulked up over time which has helped his already decent rebounding skills.
Weaknesses
Defense and passing are Pecherov’s two biggest issues.
Pecherov was never a great athlete, even when he was a wiry youngster, but he’s lost some of it as he’s bulked up. And, as mentioned before, he’s still not a strong big man, so he can get knocked off his position pretty easily inside.
Combine that with an inconsistent motor, and you end up with someone who’d be a complete liability defending NBA 4s or 5s.
Regarding his passing, former Wizards teammate Nick Young nicknamed Pecherov the “White Hole” because the ball rarely came back out if it went inside to him. It’s extremely ironic that Young, of all people, called him that, but it was true; Pecherov averaged just 0.7 assists per 36 minutes during his NBA career.
Lastly, Pecherov’s jumper isn’t super consistent. He’ll catch fire and hit a few baskets, but then mess up his mechanics and miss several in a row.
2015-16 Outlook
The Nuggets already have plenty of what Pecherov can provide them, and they can get it in younger and more skilled players.
Nikola Jokic has a nice shooting stroke and a phenomenal passer, and he’s only 20 years old. Jusuf Nurkic, Kenneth Faried, Joffrey Lauvergne and J.J. Hickson are all demon rebounders who are stronger than Pecherov. Danilo Gallinari may technically be a wing, but he’ll play some minutes at the 4 position and has elite ball-handling and shooting ability for a guy his size.
Like Matt Janning ranked just behind him, Pecherov will need to catch fire from outside during the preseason to be considered for the final roster.
Note: All statistics are from RealGM unless otherwise indicated.