1. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia, 7’0″, 19 years old
How could we not include international mystery man Kristaps Porzingis on this list?
There’s just no telling if he can live up to the enormous hype he’s generated over the last few months, tabbed as the second coming of Dirk Nowitzki.
Like Myles Turner, he’s a 7 footer that can effectively protect the rim and space the floor thanks to his three point range.
What separates the two is his super-hero like hops and speed, perfect for a team needing to inject more athleticism into their frontcourt.
Where Porzingis desperately needs improvement though is with his strength.
He may weigh 230 pounds, but has a frail upper body. There’s no question he’ll struggle to compete with NBA bigs on the low block early in his career, but he’s dedicated to bulking up.
As to the concerns regarding his toughness, Porzingis quickly shot down those claims in an interview with Sports Illustrated, making it clear he’s not soft.
"“I don’t want people to label me as soft because I’m not… I’m not the stereotype, whatever people think about Europeans.”"
Will Porzingis become the next Dirk or Darko? The next Gasol or Jianlian? With international prospects, particularly in the top 10, there’s a huge risk involved. But Porzingis is set on breaking that negative perception.