Oleksiy Pecherov

Pecherov is listed as a forward, but his 7’0” frame may say differently. Coming out of the Ukraine he had the reputation of a great shooter, but in the NBA he hit only 35% from the field and 28% from behind the arc. He was unable to see any action during this year’s summer league because of an ankle injury, so any further evaluation will have to take place during training camp. He's probably a year away from making a major contribution.

The 21-year-old Pecherov is considered a skilled big man who can rebound, shoot and has a strong perimeter game. He's listed as a C/PF by the Wizards, but the Etan Thomas/Brendan Haywood duo is a set begging to be broken up, and there could be an opportunity for Pecherov once he gets up to NBA speed after spending last season playing in his native Ukraine. A solid showing in the Las Vegas Summer League provides hope, but the transition to the NBA will be a big one for the 18th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.