Redrafting the 2015 NBA Draft: Role players everywhere
By Corey Rausch
#4 Pick: Kristaps Porzingis (Originally: Kristaps Porzingis)
The Knicks are always the easiest team to criticize, especially when looking back at past drafts. But they hit a homerun here obviously. Things went south quickly but that was the issue of management and with a do-over the hope is that they still get the pick right and handle the situation better.
Kristaps Porizingis peaked in his All-Star season at the age of 22, averaging 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game before tearing his ACL and never playing a game for the Knicks again. While usually the first year coming back from the injury is slow Kristaps Porizingis still managed to post averages of 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 34.9 percent from 3-point range. If that is him still in the recovery phase the Mavericks clearly have a steal as a second fiddle next to Luka Doncic.
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Before the injury Porzingis looked to be the prototype for what a modern center will look like, having the ability to score, rebound, shoot from distance and defend the rim. He is well-rounded and the biggest red flag about him is the injury concern. If he stays healthy he will challenge Towns as the top player to come out of this draft. He already looks to be in the most stable situation of these top four even after been drafted by Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks. Maybe he really is a unicorn.
With the fifth pick in the 2015 NBA Redraft, the Orlando Magic select…