Bill Simmons: Knicks Almost Traded Away the Fourth Pick (Kristaps Porzingis)

On this week’s The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons spoke with actor, comedian, director, and New York Knicks super fan Michael Rapaport.

They spoke about a lot of NBA subjects, including Kristaps Porzingis, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and also discussed about various movies.

Simmons and Rapaport spoke about Porzingis, recapping just how close the Knicks were to trading away the fourth pick. Start at the five minute mark for the discussion.

Bill Simmons: Let’s go through the whole cycle of Porzingis, you have the fourth pick.

Michael Rapaport: Yes!

BS: You almost trade the fourth pick, which a lot of people don’t know. Draft day the Celtics are trying to move up, you are going to move back from four to nine. Charlotte’s going to move backwards, it’s a four team deal, and the Knicks actually are in it.

MR: To trade the fourth pick?

BS: They were going to trade the fourth and pick up an extra first and move back five spots and take Kaminsky I think.

MR: You just said some crazy basketball nerd shit to me, I don’t know what the fuck. The math you just said to me…like

BS: So the Knicks are going from four to nine. Celtics are going from sixteen to four, they were giving up four of their picks. Charlotte was moving backwards and then I think the Hawks were moving way back. And Charlotte backed out. And the Knicks were like fine, I guess we’ll take Porzingis. Who is now a franchise player.

MR: How!?

Rapaport is still sketpical of Porzingis, saying that Knicks fans are all hyped just because of tip-dunks. It does not sound like Rapaport is sold on Porzingis just yet. On the other hand Simmons does believe in Porzingis, saying that he is already the Knicks’ franchise player.

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I just want to say, thank god that the Charlotte Hornets pulled out of the trade. Porzingis is averaging 11.6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal , and 1.2 blocks per game in just 24.7 minutes of play in this young season. Although, the low minutes is mostly his own fault… averaging 3.8 fouls per game, it seems like he is in early foul trouble every game. Kaminsky on the other hand is averaging 3 points and 1.1 rebounds, getting to play only nine minutes per game.

Porzingis has shown much more promise than Kaminsky, and might be the second best player in the 2015 NBA Draft, second only to Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is also the only rookie averaging more rebounds than Porzingis, with 10.4 rebounds per game. Although Porzingis is doing not too shabby for himself.

Porzingis is still a diamond in the rough but you can at least see the potential for stardom, and that is something you could not say for most of our youngsters in the past.

Next: Arron Afflalo Expects Steady Improvement

Anyways, check out that podcast. Simmons is always great. Rapaport killed it. It was a great listen.