Kristaps Porzingis is projected to be a top-10 pick in the June 25 NBA Draft, although the way he impressed in front of league scouts and executives during a workout on Friday at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, he could end up being selected much higher.
Porzingis is 7'1", but shot the ball from NBA three-point distance consistently and with ease. He also showed the ability to knock down jumpers from midrange, which will make him a potential force in pick-and-pop situations.
In addition to the shot-making ability, Porzingis showed a nice touch inside, and went through his workout with a high level of energy while ferociously attacking the rim whenever he got the chance.
One scout believes Porzingis is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick, and is clearly better than Karl-Anthony Towns. It’s tough to envision teams passing on Towns or Jahlil Okafor with the first couple of selections, and the Sixers are heavy with bigs, so taking a guard with the third pick (D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay) would make the most sense.
But the Knicks at four is where things get interesting, and Phil Jackson was among the many from around the league who attended this workout in person.