Why the celtics should not draft Kristaps Porzingis at 17#

[fitzhickey]

I am totally with Northern Lightning on Porzingis.  This kid has star potential. Star.  Plays like Kirilenko would if he was 7' tall.

but with a .002% chance of reaching that star potential.

[Kevin OConnor]

I am totally with Northern Lightning on Porzingis.  This kid has star potential. Star.  Plays like Kirilenko would if he was 7' tall.

but with a .002% chance of reaching that star potential.

Hahahahahahahh

[NorthernLightning]

I am totally with Northern Lightning on Porzingis.  This kid has star potential. Star.  Plays like Kirilenko would if he was 7' tall.

but with a .002% chance of reaching that star potential.

Right, because being 7 feet tall and playing like Kirilenko at 18 is a major disadvantage.

Another 10 minute genius. Step 1: Check nbadraft.net scouting report. Step 2: Watch draftexpress scouting video. Step 3: Congratulations, you are a Genius! Now, enlighten the world with your great insight!

Next prospect, rinse, repeat.

[Nef-Oracle]

He sucks. I don't want to have the next Roy Garbage Hibbert on my team. 6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg for a 7ft. He's too bad.

[BudweiserCeltic]

He sucks. I don't want to have the next Roy Garbage Hibbert on my team. 6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg for a 7ft. He's too bad.

What have you seen from him that in any way resembles Roy Hibbert... other than being tall?

[Celtics4ever]

What have you seen from him that in any way resembles Roy Hibbert... other than being tall?

He is unproductive?  JK

[nickagneta]

I am totally with Northern Lightning on Porzingis.  This kid has star potential. Star.  Plays like Kirilenko would if he was 7' tall.

but with a .002% chance of reaching that star potential.

Right, because being 7 feet tall and playing like Kirilenko at 18 is a major disadvantage.

Another 10 minute genius. Step 1: Check nbadraft.net scouting report. Step 2: Watch draftexpress scouting video. Step 3: Congratulations, you are a Genius! Now, enlighten the world with your great insight!

Next prospect, rinse, repeat.

This sounds like your and triboy's procedures for reviewing players, if you ask me.

[obnoxiousmime]

Obviously I can't speak with any authority on this guy as far as scouting goes, but what are the odds any of the more "proven" guys available at 17 are going to pan out either? I'm fine with taking a flyer on the guy, unless for some reason Elfrid Payton or LaVine drops to 17. I guess I'm just not very excited about some of these SFs who are expected to be around at that pick. Even if one of them pans out, their ceilings seem kind of low.

[loco_91]

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.

+1. Adding weight is one of the easiest improvements a young player can make, especially a guy like Porzingis who has the frame to carry an extra 20lbs easily. What eighteen year old seven-footer have you seen that isn't skinny?

[mmmmm]

It seems to me fringe NBA talent proliferates in the NCAA and abroad -- whether or not they're better depends largely on the league. There are pro leagues in Europe that would decimate NCAA teams, and there are international teams that'll take guys who can't make it in the NCAA.

This is an important point.

For what it's worth, Porzingis played this year in the Spanish ACB, which is generally considered second only to the NBA in level of competition.

Folks should also realize that this is professional ball, not interscholastic, "amateur" competition.  Some of Porzingis teammates and competitors have been playing professional ball for several years.   And like most pro leagues it is dominated by the veterans.  It's not a one-and-done culture dominated by hot-shot freshman stars.   You'll find far more guys who have physically filled out with muscle mass in the ACB than you will in the NCAA.

None of that guarantees that Porzingis is worth drafting at#17 or not.    But I think to suggest that he hasn't faced a similar or even tougher level of competition than the NCAA is a bit off.

I'd also note that I believe that Danny has scouted Porzingis in person so if he DID decide to take him, it would not be a blind pick.   He'll have done his homework.

[hpantazo]

He sucks. I don't want to have the next Roy Garbage Hibbert on my team. 6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg for a 7ft. He's too bad.

A rookie Roy Hibbert with the 17th pick in this draft would be a steal. I mean, there is zero chance of getting the next Shaq , Duncan, or Anthony Davis with the 17th pick. What exactly are you expecting us to get in that range?

[Rickretro]

 Looks like a pretty skilled, agile big man to me.  He just needs a bit more meat on his bones.  I would be pleased with him at 17. 

[Evantime34]

Since he's foreign I obviously don't know anything about him. With just the draft express and the Celticsblog article he seems to be a player with upside who has a chance to block shots and provide length in the NBA. This is exactly the type of player I want with our 17th pick so I am on board.

[NorthernLightning]

This is exactly the type of player I want with our 17th pick so I am on board.

It's actually exactly the type of player we would love to have at 6, if he was a year older and stronger.

I can see Danny trading back from 6 or trading up from 17, although he might just sit tight at 17 and take Kyle Anderson if Porzingis is gone by then.

[heyvik]

@NorthernLighting

Are you this guy's agent/family/close friend/relative? I have honestly never seen anyone go as hard and petition as hard as you have for ANY player....

just saying....