The tallest player in attendance, Musli had an up and down week, but fared pretty well during the game. A player that weve covered extensively in the past, hes made a number of notable strides that will surely affect his NBA draft stock the biggest change being the amount of weight hes lost.
After tipping the scales at 260 the last time we checked in on him, hes dropped another 20 pounds and looks substantially leaner. Almost skinny at this point, Musli still isnt a great athlete, though he moves a bit better than he did in the past. Muslis sheer size and length are clearly assets, but hell need to show that he can continue to add strength to build on the improvements hes already made to his physique.
Despite his lack of bulk compared to some of his teammates, Musli fought hard for position on the block all week long. Though he had a hard time establishing deep position, he had no trouble getting his hook shot off when he did receive an entry pass. His consistency still isnt ideal yet, but he shows solid touch and the extension he gets on his release makes his hook very difficult to defend. His size allows him to be a fairly effective finisher, and he isnt afraid to initiate contact when he receives the ball at the rim, but isnt always strong enough to create a good opportunity for himself.
When he steps away from the basket, Musli has an extremely mechanical jump shot. His form lacks fluidity and doesnt yield consistent results. His size gives him some upside offensively, but hell need to learn to exploit it effectively by becoming more consistent.
Defensively, Musli did a solid job contesting shots, but his lack of physical strength hurt him against the likes of
Enes Kanter and
Jared Sullinger. Hell fight hard to prevent his man from getting position on the block, but he has a hard time keeping up with quicker and stronger players when they look to take him to the basket. His length helps him compensate for that to a large degree, but his ability to add weight will limit his defensive potential.
With both of FMP Zelezniks centers (Miroslav Radjulica and
Peja Samardziski) likely moving onto bigger clubs this summer, Musli will have an opportunity to see substantial minutes next season in the Adriatic League and possibly in European competition. Still extremely young, Musli has been on the NBA radar for years and will continue to do so until he decides to enter the draft. Not quite as gifted athletically as some of his NCAA counterparts, NBA teams will likely want to see how Musli produces in Serbia first before they make any long-term judgments about his NBA potential.
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