Why the celtics should not draft Kristaps Porzingis at 17#

[Hawkeye199]

http://www.celticsblog.com/2014/6/10/5797292/who-in-the-world-is-kristaps-porzingis-latvia-latvian-mock-draft-boston-celtics-chad-ford-analysis


 I disagree with this because Although he is tall he is very skinny and In his draft evaluation, he is not good at being tough which is key in the NBA. He gets pushed around a lot by bigger players and there are a lot of buff players in the NBA.

Scouting video on him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOEG1k2eCw

[knuckleballer]

Because he is built like a stick.  Even if he does fill out, it probably won't be until after his rookie contract.

[colincb]

Chad Ford has him at 17 in his latest mock too.

There are plenty of decent picks available at 17.  I'd rather get a player than a Euro-stash-away,

[P stoff]

Levine or Hairston at 17.  I would really like both If we could get another pick at 18-20.  Add Gordon to those two and you would have an athletic 1-3 for years IMO.  Big projects are usually just that... Big projects

[Celtics18]

Levine or Hairston at 17.  I would really like both If we could get another pick at 18-20.  Add Gordon to those two and you would have an athletic 1-3 for years IMO.  Big projects are usually just that... Big projects

I'm not a fan of PJ Hairston.  If Danny is going to take a fat shooting guard at seventeen, I'd rather have Jordan Adams. 

[86MaxwellSmart]

Robert Swift--? 

[greg683x]

ill never be a fan of picking a guy in the first round that has the words tools, upside, and potential as 3 out of his 4 strengths on a draft profile.  2nd round, fine with me.

potential trade partners arent gonna care about a guy who is stashed overseas or in the d-league as well

[NorthernLightning]

You guys don't know what you're talking about.

You just heard his name for the first time in the past week, and you're already forming hard opinions.

If Porzingis played college basketball last year you'd know much more about him and would be all over him at 17.

Why you shouldn't create threads like this.

[slamtheking]

I think there will be much better, proven options at 17 that are less risky and could make a contribution next year.  this kid can be stashed by someone else or brought over and waste a spot on another team's roster until his rookie deal is done

[NorthernLightning]

He's quick and skilled enough to play minutes at SF as a 7 foot rookie. You guys should study him more, and think a little bit.

He's more proven than most of the college players in this draft, because he plays in the best league in the world outside of the NBA, as an 18 year old.

He's very tough, he just needs to add more weight.

You don't just dismiss athletic and long and skilled 7 footers because you haven't seen him play college ball 20 times.

[knuckleballer]

You guys don't know what you're talking about.

You just heard his name for the first time in the past week, and you're already forming hard opinions.

If Porzingis played college basketball last year you'd know much more about him and would be all over him at 17.

Why you shouldn't create threads like this.

Unless we have studied the man's entire career, we're not entitled to an opinion?

[fitzhickey]

He's quick and skilled enough to play minutes at SF as a 7 foot rookie. You guys should study him more, and think a little bit.

He's more proven than most of the college players in this draft, because he plays in the best league in the world outside of the NBA, as an 18 year old.

He's very tough, he just needs to add more weight.

You don't just dismiss athletic and long and skilled 7 footers because you haven't seen him play college ball 20 times.

He's not strong enough to play any minutes at 4/5 in his rookie year.

Heck, Joe Johnson could overpower him on his way to the ring

[NorthernLightning]

Fellas, guess how much KG and Bosh weighed coming out of high school? Nerlens Noel weighed 206 or something at the combine last year for crisssake. Look at John Henson, who I would favorably compare Porzingis to.

It's the height of myopia to write off a skilled and athletic 7 footer at 18 years old because he isn't strong.

Look at Larry Sanders, who is way less skilled than Porzingis but does well at 230-235 pounds.

Porzingis will never be Zach Randolph, but he can be an absolutely outstanding player.

[knuckleballer]

Fellas, guess how much KG and Bosh weighed coming out of high school? Nerlens Noel weighed 206 or something at the combine last year for crisssake. Look at John Henson, who I would favorably compare Porzingis to.

It's the height of myopia to write off a skilled and athletic 7 footer at 18 years old because he isn't strong.

Look at Larry Sanders, who is way less skilled than Porzingis but does well at 230-235 pounds.

Porzingis will never be Zach Randolph, but he can be an absolutely outstanding player.

KG and Noel looked much more muscular than this guy at the same age.  They both looked wiry strong while Porzingis looks frail and weak.  And just because he's listed at 220, doesn't mean he actually is 220.  Heights and weights are exaggerated all the time to make up for shortcomings.

[NorthernLightning]

BTW, Europe is much less likely to exaggerate height and weight than the US. Often, European players measure out taller than their listed heights.

I'd love to know Porzingis' wingspan.