Saras Kansiecis

Kansiecis is an up-and-coming star in the Balkan League who has received meaningful minutes already for his team, Panipopoulos. A 1988 prospect, he is still young at the age of 18 and has made considerable strides in his offensive game.

Kansiecis is a reliable scorer and currently has the green light to shoot the ball off the penetrations and passings of fellow teammate Tarvu Sajai. He shows remarkable range for a big man, up to 20 feet, and shows a propensity to hit from long distances consistently. Like many Europeans, Kansiecis displays wonderful touch and it was this same touch that gave him a name for himself at the U-20 All-European Leagues, a marvelous showcase for European talent (especially ones that are capable of making it to the NBA). Kansiecis more often than not is capable of scoring in double digits virtually every game if given the minutes.

Kansiecis's offensive game may also be comprised of scraps and doing the dirty work as well. He gives 110% effort each game, putting up a fight for the offensive rebound, and is capable of playing around the painted area and showing soft touch in the lay-in or hook shot.

Kansiecis's biggest weakness in terms of the NBA is related to his physical attributes. His frame isn't perfect to begin with, as he's undersized at 6'8" and when playing against taller Greek players, he seems to put up a struggle especially in the boxing-out and rebounding categories. This will be a major weakness in the NBA; Kansiecis is an extremely inconsistent rebounder and this aspect of his game is virtually neutralized against Greek 7-footers, so seeing this translate to the NBA will be hard.

Kansiecis is also very unathletic, not possessing great lateral speed or a great vertical to help his cause. He puts effort, again, running the court, playing defense, etc., but it only gets him so far. He will be a defensive liability in the league, as he's not an intimidator or crafty player to begin with and can easily be fooled by hesitation moves or speed changes by Greek guards.

Overall, however, Kansiecis is a smart player who seems to be a bit one-dimensional for the NBA. But shooting big men are not exactly common in the NBA, and he may find a niche especially with his hustle, effort, and shooting ability.