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2015 NBA Draft: New York Knicks Select Kristaps Porzingis With 4th Overall Pick

By Kenneth Teape

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The New York Knicks took a risk with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, selecting international player Kristaps Porzingis. He has the potential to be a superstar, and has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft. The question is, will he reach that potential, or will be fall short like many European players before him?

With the 4th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks selected forward Kristaps Porzingis. This was the first top-five pick for the Knicks since 1985, when they selected Kenny Walker out of Kentucky. It is the highest they have picked since 2008, when they selected Italian forward Danilo Gallinari with the sixth overall pick.

Porzingis has freakish size, as he stands over 7-feet-1 inch tall without shoes on with a 7-feet-6 inch wingspan. He has a high level of athleticism for a player his size. He can also shoot the lights out of the ball, which and looks like he has the ability to be a pick and pop power forward right out of the gate.

Strength right now is the biggest question mark for him. Just looking at him you can tell that he has to put on a lot of weight. He is rail thin, and does not have an NBA body at this time. He will be eaten alive in the post defensively, as he needs to put on weight and muscle to truly realize his potential. The lake of strength also makes him a poor finisher at the rim currently, as the only real advantage he has around the basket is the length he possesses over other players.

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Knicks fans will shudder when they see that one of Porzingis comparisons is Andrea Bargnani, but will be much happier to see there are some Pau Gasol comparisons as well. The Gasol comps should get people excited, as Gasol had a ton of success playing in the triangle offense with the Lakers, the same one Porzingis will be entering with the Knicks.

When the Knicks missed out on Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor, the first three picks in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Knicks needed to swing for the fences. Porzingis is a bit of a project, as he needs to continue strengthening himself to realize his potential. If he is able to do that, we could look back on this draft in a couple of years and say the Knicks got the best player in the draft. The question is, will the Knicks give him the chance to develop, or will he fall victim and become just another soft European player that can only shoot?

Next: How Close Was Our Mock Draft To The Actual Outcome?

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