Drafted by Washington Wizards 

Vesely is dancing on a fine line between athletic phenom and “tweener” at the NBA level. There’s no denying his unreal combination of size, length, and athleticism, but without much bulk or toughness, his game could suffer and be fairly transparent.

Regardless, Vesely will enter the 2011 NBA Draft with certain tools that other players in his draft class just can’t offer or be taught, while his potential is seemingly limitless. If NBA teams are looking for a risky pick that could really pay off, Vesely could easily be the call.

NBA Position: Forward

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 230 lbs.

School: Czech Republic

Stats

Strengths

Vesely has seen his stock rise due to his elite size, length, and athleticism. He has the ability to work the fast break, take his man one on one, pull his jumper from long range, or take it over multiple defenders for high-flying dunks. Truly Vesley is an unlikely highlight reel that can go off without warning. He’s still quite raw offensively, however, limiting his immediate offensive potential outside of put-backs, alley-oops, or fast break points. Has the potential to be a very solid defender with tremendous size and length, but needs to work on timing and consistency. Overall an athletic gem with tons of upside on both ends of the court.

Weaknesses

Despite his flashy plays and elite athleticism, he’s still really a work in progress. Very raw on offense. Has a nice stroke with range, but won’t be able to consistently create for himself at the next level. Will have to refine his offensive skills so he can bring more to the table, otherwise he’s nothing more than an energy guy on offense. Has the tools to be a great defender, but is rail thin and doesn’t use his body correctly all the time. Really needs to put some hard work into becoming a better rebounder. Might not have a true position, and even if he does, he still needs to bulk up and get stronger for his inside game, both for offense and defense.

Ultimately, Vesely is oozing with potential and has the talent and versatility to be a top-five pick in this year’s draft. However, anyone who selects him has to be doing so with the knowledge that he is far from refined, and that he may be a couple of years away from producing as a starter. Regardless, the draft is largely about finding potential-ridden stars, and Vesely fits the bill.

NBA Player Comparison: Andrea Bargnani (more athletic)

Draft Projection: Top 10 Pick