The Case for Kristaps Porzingis as a Top-5 Pick in the 2015 NBA Draft

Kristaps Porzingis has generated a ton of excitement, awe and fascination in NBA draft circles. That's often what happens when a prospect emerges as a candidate for one of the top five selections, and Porzingis is no different in that regard.

He's also evoked a boatload of wariness. Latvia's 7'1" star is one of the most alluring prospects to emerge from Europe in recent years, and it's only natural for stateside observers to exercise caution and skepticism since they haven't had their own firsthand look. The Association's history is littered with a multitude of disappointing or failed European acquisitions.

For every Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol or Tony Parker, there are a handful of international arrivals who don't stick, fall miles short of expectations or don't join at all. Names such as Darko Milicic, Andrea Bargnani and Fran Vazquez are sobering examples, respectively.

Porzingis won't likely achieve the stratosphere of Nowitzki, but he's worth a top-five selection. He'll not only survive in the NBA; he'll flourish rather than flop.

	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	BLK	FG%	3FG%	FT%	PER
ACB League	21.7	10.7	4.8	0.4	1.0	.471	.312	.774	19.6
Eurocup	21.0	11.6	4.1	0.8	1.2	.556	.459	.707	20.7

He's still a teenager (19 years old), and he's too wiry to handle the punishment of NBA frontcourts right now. But the towering stretch 4 is clearly gifted. The right landing spot and development could propel him to stardom.

For starters, his offensive playing style and skill set should translate superbly to the league's modern trends.

During Porzingis' time with Spanish ACB club Baloncesto Sevilla, he proved he can score from almost anywhere on the floor. He has legitimate three-point range, made possible by a smooth, quick shooting motion.

The NBA has become increasingly receptive to big men who can shoot, as coaches love to use them as floor spacers and pick-and-pop weapons. Porzingis isn't some theoretical pick-and-pop asset down the road. It will be one of his most dangerous early contributions, as evidenced by his fluidity in ACB play:

Given his agile footwork and confident delivery, he'll be an excellent catch-and-shoot weapon in almost any offensive set.

Meanwhile, he's shown signs of executing more than just spot-ups or catch-and-shoot attempts.

As Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress notes, Porzingis isn't an advanced dribbler, yet he takes advantage of opportunities to score on drives and pull-ups.

"[He's] not a great ball-handler, but can put it down once or twice comfortably," Schmitz said. "[He's] able to attack scrambling defenders off the dribble."

Watch how comfortable he is scoring on the move here, as he bounces up and squares his body in midair for a pretty fadeaway:

This jump-shooting prowess is awesome for a 7-footer, but he's not worth a top-five pick if that's the only thing he'll supply.

Fortunately, he offers more.

Porzingis' end-to-end athleticism will serve him well during uptempo sequences, as he owns magnificent body control and a nose for the hoop. And despite his slender frame, he's shown a willingness to finish strong near the cup. He isn't close to being a polished, strong back-to-the-basket player with effective pivot moves, but he can score in close range. 

Not only does he convert bankers over either shoulder in the post, but he also fights through contact to get buckets. Additionally, Porzingis uses his springs and length to go over opponents en route to the hoop.

The following sample won't conjure comparisons to Tim Duncan, but it shows he's more than a Euro-gunner:

Porzingis isn't strong or experienced enough yet to shine on the defensive side, but his length and mobility have yielded glimpses of intriguing versatility.

His height and monstrous wingspan obviously enable him to alter shots as a one-on-one defender or helper. With one or two long strides and a skyscraping reach, he can cover acres of space around and above the rim.

However, his defensive potential goes far beyond just height and shot-blocking ability. Porzingis' relatively quick feet and agility will come in handy against pick-and-rolls, where he can stay in front of guards coming off screens.

In the rebounding department, he has a ways to go. He hauled in just 8.6 boards per 40 minutes in 2014-15, which is minuscule for a 7-footer. With a stronger base to battle for position, he should be able to earn more rebounding opportunities and thereby post better numbers in the future.

Is there a chance Porzingis won't ever be a strong interior presence, and that he'll be the second coming of Bargnani (how does that sound, Knicks fans?) or worse? Absolutely. There's substantial risk involved in selecting him.

Getty Images

But from a size, skills and upside standpoint, Porzingis stacks up with almost anyone in this draft class, and he's worth the roll of the dice even as a top-five selection. There's a good chance he'll be a 17- to 20-point scorer in his prime.

One veteran international NBA scout told ESPN.com's Chad Ford that once Porzingis bulks up, everything should fall into place nicely.

"I keep telling my staff, 'This one is not like other international players.' He's the real deal. He's special in all the ways a player can be special. He just needs to get stronger. That's it. He's going to be a big-time pro."

Once you get beyond Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, Porzingis compares favorably to any other talented prospect in this class. Several of the top-five lottery teams should highly consider snagging him.

At No. 5, the Orlando Magic would love the shooting and rim protection he offers. At No. 4, the Knicks are in need of talent all over the place, and he may be the top performer left on the board. And the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 have made several visits abroad to watch him play. Derek Bodner of Liberty Ballers reports that general manager Sam Hinkie is a "big fan."

No one's crowning him as the next Nowitzki or franchise-transforming superstar. His suitors should realize the risk involved in choosing him.

But Porzingis is on track to be anything but a bust. He'll be used in a variety of ways, and he projects to be one of the most dangerous Europeans to grace the NBA hardwood in the past decade.

The reward is just too rich to pass up.

Dan O'Brien covers the NBA draft for Bleacher Report.

Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR