2015: Kristaps Porzingis
Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Latvian kid…would be almost every Knicks fan’s reaction upon gazing at Kristaps Porzingis ever since the trade happened.
To be honest, most Knicks fans aren’t just mad at Kristaps. They are mad at the whole organization for not getting a star player in return. Porzingis is one of the best young stars in the NBA, and any trade around him should at least include a player near his ability.
NYK took Frank Ntilikina 8th overall in the 2017 draft. Dennis Smith Jr. went 9th to DAL. Now Knicks are trading Kristaps Porzingis to Mavs for a package around DSJ?
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) January 31, 2019
Should have drafted: Kristaps Porzingis
Despite all that classic New York City drama, the Knicks did the right thing in drafting Porzingis. He is a special talent and could end up as one of the best power forwards to ever play the game, if he manages to stay healthy.
Now, what the Knicks should have done was to create the optimal atmosphere around the 7’3” Latvian star. It became known that the biggest reason behind Kristaps’ demand of a trade was that the front office did not do their best to surround him with talent, in order to at least compete for a playoff spot. And boy, was he right.
Dream target: Kristaps Porzingis/(Devin Booker)
It is really hard to judge and compare the respective careers of two young players. especially when you weigh in the fact that they have played fewer than a handful of seasons in the NBA.
These two are both extremely prolific scorers, incredible shooters and future superstars. Porzingis is an elite defender, while Devin Booker is one of the best passers at the shooting guard spot. Looking back at the draft, the Knicks would have done right by selecting either of those two.