Kristaps Porzingis Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction
plays for Sevilla in the Spanish ACB and was averaging 10.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as of Wednesday. has as the No. 8 pick in its latest mock draft, going to the Detroit Pistons.
Ford noted that this decision appears to be the right one:
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"burst onto the NBA draft about this time last year when he declared for the 2014 NBA draft. As NBA teams scrambled to get to Spain to watch him play, they became enamored with his rare combination of size, athleticism, ability to protect the rim and shooting range. rose from an obscure draft-and-stash late first-rounder into the late lottery before ultimately deciding to withdraw from the 2014 draft and try again this year.
It looks like it was a good move. has been ranked in the top five all year on our 2015 Big Board.
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Ford also passed along an enticing quote from an NBA general manager:
"He's an athletic, super-skilled 7-footer who can do everything well. I was watching him warm up and had flashbacks to when I saw Pau take the floor for the first time in Spain, only this kid is much more athletic than but plays with that same fluidity. I've been asking my team since then: Are you sure he's not the No. 1 guy? Are these guys in college really better than him?
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A 19-year-old who plays like Pau will certainly receive some consideration come draft day.
is an interesting comparison, but is more athletic than the NBA veteran. checks in at " and 220 pounds with three-point touch and the ability to get out in transition. He brings small forward athleticism and center height to the table and is an ideal pick for teams that are looking to stretch the floor next year and beyond.
His height allows him to grab rebounds and play around the basket, but his touch from the perimeter makes him a matchup nightmare.
Shooting translates to any level, and he will likely be asked to contribute off the bench in a scoring role right away. In an ideal situation, he will be paired with a slasher who can attack the basket after pulls his defender away from the rim.
Yes, needs to add more strength to his frame before he is ready to bang around with some of the NBA’s biggest centers, but the same can be said for most 19-year-old prospects. Once he partakes in an NBA strength program for a couple of years, those concerns will not be nearly as pressing.
has top-10 skill. Now teams officially have the opportunity to draft him this year.
