Kristaps Porzingis
Age: 19
Height: 7’0″
Weight: 220 pounds
Porzingis is another European prospect that is overflowing with potential, but lacks any real concrete foundation to show that he can contribute immediately and isn’t all hype. And as a lanky seven-footer with a large wingspan, he may conjure up memories (and nightmares) of former European big men that many thought would change the landscape of the NBA, such as: Darko Milicic, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Jan Vesely. Even if they’re just physical and contextual comparisons to those NBA Draft busts, that may be enough to ward off teams selecting at the top off the draft who are looking for a home run.
However, Porzingis doesn’t share much with those guys, except that they are all European and are front court players. Where those players were appealing because of their mobility, athleticism and length, Porzingis isn’t the athletic marvel they were.
The 19-year-old Latvian relies on a more unique set of skills to confound defenders and create mismatches, even though he possess some athleticism and agility. Although Porzingis’s slender frame doesn’t allow him to bully defenders, his ability to make difficult shots in the post and from the 3-point line (he shot 35.9 percent last season) add a new dimension to his team’s offense, allowing them to experiment with lineups without compromising size.
Moving forward, Porzingis will need to add 20-30 pounds to keep defenders honest, and be effective on the boards, in the NBA. If he doesn’t, he could end up mirroring Andrea Bargnani or Spencer Hawes, both of whom aren’t of much use unless their hitting 3-pointers on a consistent basis. In contrast, if Porzingis can put on the weight and refine his post moves, he can draw similarities to Dirk Nowitzki–who is one of the toughest covers in NBA history.
On the 76ers however, Porzingis would fall into a young and talented front court, where he probably won’t see enough playing time to develop properly. Besides the logjam in the front court, Porzingis wouldn’t provide much relief or variation at that position with the 6’10” Saric coming over from Turkey, who is capable of shooting 3s. Considering what the 76ers already have, Porzingis doesn’t seem to be worth the risk or selection at No. 3.