Interesting Revelations on Porzingis' Draft Journey

[Yenohb]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-unlikely-story-of-how-kristaps-porzingis-found-his-way-to-the-knicks-072828935.html

NBA Draft 2014 and the Orlando Promise:

As an organization, the Magic became enamored with the long-term possibilities of Porzingis and became aggressive in persuading him to remain in the 2014 draft. So aggressive, in fact, Miller worked a guarantee out of Hennigan that Orlando would choose Porzingis with the No. 12 pick in 2014. Orlando owned two picks, including No. 4. If Porzingis preferred to play one more year with Sevilla in the Spanish ACB before coming to the NBA, the Magic would support him.

Lakers Workout:

The Lakers worked out Porzingis, worked him so hard that "I was getting dizzy in the workout, so tired that I couldn't speak, or put a sentence together," Porzingis told The Vertical. "There were a few moments where I thought I might collapse, but no moments where I was going to give up."

In the end, the Lakers believed Porzingis was too long term of a project, and chose point guard D'Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor.

The Porzingis Camp wanted no part of the Sixers' situation at No 3:

Whatever happened, Miller didn't make it easy for Philadelphia to draft Porzingis at No. 3. The Sixers wouldn't be afforded Porzingis' physical, nor get a private workout, nor even a face-to-face meeting. After most of the pro day executives cleared out of the gym in Vegas in mid-June, 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie lingered to meet with Miller. Hinkie stopped him in the lobby area and asked Miller about a chance to sit down and visit with Porzingis.

"You said that I would get a meeting with him here," Hinkie told Miller.

"I said, 'I'd try,' and it's not going to work out, Sam," Miller responded.

An awkward silence lingered, the GM and agent, standing and staring. The Porzingis camp wanted no part of the Sixers' situation at No 3. Miller couldn't stop Philadelphia from drafting Porzingis, but he could limit the information they had to make a decision. And did. No physical. No meeting. No workout. The Sixers passed on Porzingis on draft night, clearing the way for the Knicks to select him.

[jmen788]

Very interesting - TP for you! He wouldn't even allow the 76ers a chance... wow.