FanPost

The Case for Kristaps Porzingis

Nineteen year old Latvian power forward, Kristaps Porzingis is the wild card in this draft. While the conventional wisdom is that Towns and Okafor go first, with point guards Russell and Mudiay going next, NBA teams have to consider a seven footer who can shoot well, all the way out to the three point line, and who can also defend. One report before the lottery claimed that at least one GM has Porzingis rated as high as number two.

His skill set fits the needs of the Minnesota Timberwolves, for one. They have guards (Rubio, KMartin, Lavine) and small wings (Muhammad and Wiggins). They also have Nikola Peckovic and Georgui Deng, two 6'11 bigs who can rebound and defend the paint, but neither of whom protects the rim very well. At power forward, Kevin Garnett has returned, and they traded for both Adreian Payne and Anthony Bennett. Most people believe they are still dissatisfied with their power forward situation. Towns has the slight edge over Okafor, because its easier to envision KAT playing next to Peckovic and Deng. But even that requires the Wolves to believe, as I do, that KAT can shoot out to the three point line.

On the other hand, there is no such concerns with Porzingins, who averaged 36% from the three point line, on a pretty high usage rate. There's been only four games this season in which he has not attempted at least one. At the same time, he doesn't live out there, shooting only five three pointers in a game three times, shooting over 50% from inside the arc, and 75% from the free throw line.

And here's the obligatory part where we mention the fact that he's only a 19 year old kid playing in the Spanish League. I, for one, think that gets overblown sometimes. When a youngster does something well in a foreign league, I think they should absolutely get credit, despite the level of quality--same thing goes for mid major and small conferences in the US. However, I have serious doubts on players who aren't complete players at lower levels. Bottom line is, where I believe Mario Hezonja has too many questions about his game against the same competition, lack of offensive diversity and defensive intensity, for two examples, Porzingis checks all the boxes except for the obvious flaw of just about every teenager--strength.

Sometimes I forget the Spanish League is still playing. And Porzingis is still improving in it. In Sevilla's last five games, he's started each one, the team has gone 3-2, and Porzingis is averaging 13pts and six rebounds a game,with almost two blocks in just 23minutes/gm. Those are 36minute averages of ~19pts, 9rbs, 3blks. The best part is that, despite hitting on 36% of his 3pts this year, he's "only" 2-8 in the last five games, making 60% of his twos (21-35) and 85% of his free throws (17-20). Those are the numbers of a young man who's not afraid of contact despite his slight build.

Porzingis is a phenomenal athlete "for a big man". He's speedy and agile for someone 7'1. Has nimble feet. He can jump and likes/loves to dunk and catch alleyoops. Skinny as hell, he's got a couple former mid-level college stars on a poster. That said, his hops are not on a Hezonja-type level. He gets beasted in the post right now. But, he's willing and doesn't shy from contact. The kid is not afraid. He averages a block a game despite his frame. He'll grow. The last 7'0 Latvian kid to make it to the NBA was Andris Beidrins, and banging down low was never a problem for him. Beidrins was a horrendous shooter, to the point where he didn't want the ball at all on offense. Porzingis plays more like Chis Kaman did in college, where he's looking for an opportunity to pipe it.

I can only imagine what the Sixers could do with him in our conditioning and skills program. The Nowitzki comparisons are not entirely off point. If its all about the fluidity of a man that size who can also shoot, okay. Fair enough. But I think Porzingis is more of an inside player than Nowitzki was at nineteen. And expecting anyone to be Dirk is a tall order. But somewhere inbetween is reasonable. If you can remember when Andrea Bargnani was decent, he could shoot threes and block shots but didn't rebound well. That's Porzingis' floor, in my opinion.

But that's wayyyy too conservative. The reason being, Porzingis takes defense seriously. He slides his feet against wing players and doesn't look for help. Great motor. He plays the game passionately. If it should've been obvious that Shawn Bradley wouldn't suceed because he simply didn't like basketball, Porzingis will succeed because he plays like he love to mix it up.

This is one exciting big man's draft. Between Towns, Okafor, Porzingis, Kaminsky, Cauley Stein, Portis and Myles Turner, I can't say I've ever seen so many 6'11 prospects. Next year's crop is not as good in my opinion, although Skal Labrissiere would slide in around number two or three. Meanwhile, the guards in 2016 are phenomenal. Malik Newman, Isaiah Briscoe (personal favorite), Jamal Murray (personal favorite), Kris Dunn, Melo Trimble, Monte Morris,... And Ben Simmons, the best player in next year and this year's draft, is something of a point forward. In fact, I rate Jamal Murray and Isaiah Briscoe ahead of both Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell.

I say all that to say, if we are still trying to build a monster squad that will compete for championships for years to come, then we should consider getting unique talents instead of trying to fill a hole and have a 'competitive' starting five. If you believe D'Angelo Russell is the absolute best player in this draft, so be it. However, it is not a good reason to pass up talent like Porzingis, "because we need to get guards."


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