GMs' Runaway Pick: Sasha Vezenkov Eyes NBA Return

Merlin sees the league’s GMs have named Aleksandar “Sasha” Vezenkov the best player outside the NBA, a clear signal after he captured 44% of the vote. That matters because Vezenkov followed a terse NBA stint (he called it “a weird season”) with a monster 2024–25 in Europe — 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, a 45-point game and strong shooting — reminding scouts he can still produce at a high level. Merlin notes the tale is part skill, part fit. At 6'9" with a high release and steady deep touch — “He comes in and he doesn't miss,” Kevin Huerter said — Vezenkov looks like a natural stretch forward. But age, a costly buyout and the need for a defined role mean the door back to the NBA is open, not wide.