Kasparas Jakucionis: The Journey Of A Basketball Enthusiast

he looks good

 

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Nice thread

 

Probably the guy I like the most in the range the Rockets are drafting, along with Kon, you'd figure they'd be at least rotation players that can get on the floor, and if Kasparas' shot comes along there's a real argument he's more like Luka light then just Lithuanian Josh Giddey

(He's also a lot more ripped then Giddey, so I suspect he'll hold up better on defense)

 

I think people compare Josh Giddy with Demin more than Kasparas because of the height and "inability to shoot". Demin is 6'8"/6'9"' while Kasparas is 6'5"/6'6". Giddey is 6'8" and couldn't really shoot when he got into the league, although he's gotten a lot better. Both Demin and Jakucionas are somewhat crapshoots in terms of they've got the Amen curse of "if only he could shoot, he'd be great!", except Amen has surprisingly been so elite on defense, he does it well enough for people to overlook his shooting deficiencies. I'm not sure the other 2 have anything on the level of Amen's athleticism, versatility, and defense.

 

Kasparas plays bigger and the general get down hill part looks a lot like Giddey.

A LOT of these prospects are in the "If he can shoot" "if his shot is real" this year, even Harper, but obviously therea re different degrees of shot issue. I think Kasparas is a reasonable bet to be ok, at least people will defend him like he's shooting and he's going to shoot the ball, the only question is really if it's going in at a larger volume efficiently.

Amen is more in this "Is he like Westbrook or even Michael Kidd Gilchrist" level of worry, if he even really gets to Westbrook / Giannis level he should be pretty darn good already.

Kasaparas shoots a lot with step backs and ****, it's really more like a Luka style, but obviously not as dominant. So maybe he ends up being more like a Luka type of "the overall percentage isn't great but he seem to be always hitting those shots that matter" type

 

The kid's 19 years old

I guess the same thing works for Egor Demin as well

 

Since they're about the same age, do you see Egor's vs Kaspares's outside shots being one better than the other?

 

I'd feel way more confident we'd be able to land him with #9. I'd be shocked if he's around past #7...

Everyone sleeping on him hard. He's #4 on my board just behind Edgecomb.

 

I’m trying to talk myself into him, but his inability to get separation without a pick and his defense are making it hard for me.

I want an on-ball creator and am trying to get onboard with Kasparas or Demin, but I just can’t get there yet.

 

The problem this year is that there's basically no one outside of Harper you'd feel pretty good about in terms of on ball creator (Flagg is his own thing.), the other option is Fears, but while he can get to the rim everything else is pretty questionable (also can't shoot, not much of a finisher, even if you're optimistic he's going to suck for sure for 2 years at least.) Or Kon, but he's even more likely to go before Kasparas.

I agree that Kasparas is more like the Jeremy Lin ish level of creator who needs picks (but he is also pretty great out of it like Lin.) though he's a bit bigger and obviously is ahead of where Lin was at the same point by a lot.

ultimately though I think the problem with Fears is that if it doesn't work on ball for him there are very little outs, he's thinner and plays smaller than Kasparas, I think Kasparas just based off the feel for the game and a jack of all trades sort of skill set will be useful rotation player at the very least (obviously, like everyone else, barring major injuries.)

Defensively we'll see, but he was a freshmen carrying a super star level of usage, hard to imagine guard prospect in that scenario being good, his frame and body looks quite solid to me, (At least several level above Jalen Green at the same stage.). I'd imagine he can be at least a guy that doesn't kill you if he's not playing a super star role (which if he was really that great offensively you'd be ok with that.)

Ultimately though, the average #10 pick value if you get anyone who's a real higher end rotation player / back half starter for you you probably already did pretty well.

This draft is weird with quite a few guys in this range that's really divisive (I can see Fears going top 5 or out of the lottery for example.) so the Rockets better have a few different ideas lined up.

 

Kasp definitely has the better outside shot potential long term.

Anything can happen - and Egor supporters will point out that he started the year hot from the perimeter before he physically broke down. His detractors will point out that he struggled against better competition.

Both are what I would call "interesting" prospects.

Egor is the best passer in this draft - Kasp has a higher upside as a scorer.

 

I like the name Kasparas ..... in regards to the guy Garik Kasparov

 

Thanks for this. Helping me talk myself into him - ha.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6429478/2025/06/18/nba-draft-confidential-guard-2025/