NBA Draft: Who is Kristaps Porzingis
Draft Sites Say . . .
"It’s not easy to find a legit 7-footer with great length and high level athleticism … If you consider how well he runs the floor and his skill level then you can understand why Porzingis is considered one of the most intriguing International players in recent years … A high level shooter, with a high release, very natural and quick with deep range. The main issue for Pozingis is his strength, and while he has more physicality than some people might think, he will need to get much stronger to hold his own defensively in the post and actually build up on his offensive post game (that is currently not a strength) … He has a narrow frame with thin shoulders, sort of like Joakim Noah had, so adding good bulk and carrying it will be paramount … Right now he is not a good finisher at the rim, but with more upper body and lower body strength he could start to really take fully advantage of his skills."
"Porzingis is one of the most unique players in this draft class, showing an impressive combination of height, length, fluidity and skills. He’s very mobile for his size, capable of playing above the rim with ease and able to cover ground quickly moving from the perimeter to the paint. Besides his physical attributes, the most appealing part of Porzingis’ game revolves around his feathery touch from the perimeter. He has beautiful shooting mechanics, complete with deep range, a quick release, and the ability to make shots either coming off screens or as a floor-spacer with his feet set. It’s virtually impossible to contest his shot at over 7-feet with his high release point, and he’s hitting an outstanding 43% of his 136 catch and shoot attempts thus far this season, including 38% of his 3-pointers (33/87 in 38 games). If the defense closes out too aggressively, he can put the ball down in a straight line and make his way to the basket, sometimes for a very impressive finish."
Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel
"Porzingis, a 7-foot power forward with a soft shooting touch, appears likely to be selected early in Thursday’s NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Lakers might consider drafting him with the second overall pick. He also might be in play for the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 or the New York Knicks at No. 4. Many NBA observers expect the Orlando Magic to use the fifth overall pick to select Porzingis if he’s still available."
"The Magic have apparently been high on Porzingis throughout the entire process, and really would love for him to fall to No. 5. He would be a perfect fit as a rim protector next to Nikola Vucevic and a floor spacer with Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton in the background. But more than that, he’d give the Magic a genuine potential all-star, something the roster currently lacks. He might take a couple of years, but the upside here is totally worth it for the Magic."
Yannis Koutroupis, Basketball Insiders
"Oozing potential with a tremendous amount of physical gifts. Mobile for his size with a solid jump shot that he’s comfortable utilizing out to the three-point line. Can be used in a variety of different ways offensively once he can hold his own on the low block. . . . On the frail side, especially for someone who teams could hope to use at center in stretches. Not known for his physicality or toughness. Defense."
"When you look at Kristaps Porzingis work within an offense, it’s hard not to love the guy. He can shoot well from mid range and even has a few razzle-dazzle post moves that would confuse solid defenders in the NBA. Something tells me this guy is going to be different from most of the foreign prospects before him, but another side of me realizes that he is severely underweight to be successful under the basket in the NBA."
"Porzingis, who just worked out for general managers this week in Las Vegas, has been drawing rave reviews since coming stateside. Porzingis has one of the higher upsides in the draft, and his shooting and shot blocking would fit in well with Nikola Vucevic in the frontcourt."
"Hennigan has scouted Porzingis four times in person, which is a strong signal of Orlando’s interest in him. After withdrawing from last year’s draft, Porzingis comes in even more polished and ready to contribute in the NBA as a rookie. Some scouts believe Porzingis could go in the top three, but if he falls here, this should be a great get for the Magic. Reminiscent of Nikola Mirotic with his diverse offensive repertoire, Porzingis will have some GMs salivating at the thought of a 7-footer who can have the offense run through him in the mid-range and post area or step out and knock it down from the arc."
"This should be a no-brainer for GM Rob Hennigan and the Magic. Porzingis is a skilled 7-foot Latvian, and one high-ranking NBA executive told me he might have as much upside as anyone in the draft — and that includes Towns. The Magic have enough guys who are perimeter shot-challenged. They need another scorer, and that’s Porzingis"
"The Magic have too many guards who cannot shoot and too many bigs who cannot defend. Porzingis projects to give a little of both. Porzingis is an ideal partner for both Elfrid Payton and Nikola Vucevic. His workouts have been outstanding and are backed up by solid production in Europe at age 19."
"Porzingis and Vucevic make a nice pair, making up for each other’s weakness. Porzingis can offer the rim protection and Vucevic can do most of the rebounding. If Gordon, Payton and Oladipo are on the court, none of them being great shooters, Porzingis will provide the much needed spacing with his excellent shot. Plus he provides a little insurance if Harris bolts in free agency."
"Porzingis needs to get stronger but he has ability to score from the paint to the 3-point line as a 7-footer. He would have been a mid-first round pick last year."
Tony Xypteras, Crossover Chronicles
"The Magic hired a new head coach since my last mock draft, but I refuse to remove Kristaps Porzingis from this position. You could argue that Scott Skiles will target Willie Cauley-Stein for his defensive prowess, but the Magic drafted with a defensive mindset in their last three first-round selections: Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, and Victor Oladipo. Cauley-Stein wouldn’t surprise me here, but I’m giving them the dynamic Latvian for now."
"I watched the Magic play quite a bit last season, and something was painfully evident: the team needs a power forward to play alongside Nikola Vucevic. Porzingis, who is a young 7-foot international player, is looked upon fondly by NBA scouts and since Vucevic is a fellow international player, the fit might make even more sense. While the first four prospects in this year’s draft are somewhat set in stone, from No. 5 on, it gets significantly more difficult to project what teams may be thinking."
Next: Final Take