Sir Charles in Charge
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Top 5 under 25: The most valuable youngsters in the NBA

By Morgan Dunn

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is congratulated by Andrew Wiggins #22 after he made a basket against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is congratulated by Andrew Wiggins #22 after he made a basket against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates his basket in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates his basket in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks

The best thing to happen to the Knicks since Patrick Ewing, Porzingis is a player whose ceiling is truly hard to pin down. At 7-foot-3, Porzingis is extremely mobile for his size. He’s an exceptional shooter for a big man, drawing comparisons to the great Dirk Nowitzki.

We’ve been hearing the Dirk comparisons for 15 years, going all the way back to Euro busts like Nikoloz Tskitishvili, but Porzingis might be the only one to actually warrant one. The pair even worked out together this summer.

Coming off a 2016-17 campaign in which he averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and two blocks per game while shooting 37 percent from distance, Porzingis seems primed for a true breakout season in 2017-18. Consider that what he did last season came in a season where Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose basically fought over the ball, it becomes all the more impressive.

New York is trying to move Anthony, which would officially hand the keys to the franchise over to the Latvian. His potential seems limitless, but I still think there are two players that I would trade him for, even as a Knicks fan.

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