1. Defensive Potential
There aren’t many players who can both defend and score at star-caliber levels. It’s fair to state that Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t yet reached that status, but the early signs indicate that he could be one of the rare two-way players.
The New York Knicks could potentially acquire a better scorer than Porzingis is or ever will be, but that wouldn’t be worth the defensive sacrifice.
Porzingis stands at 7’3″ with a 7’4″ wingspan. John Brinkus of ESPN hosted Porzingis for an in-depth evaluation of what type of defensive deterrent he truly is, and came to the conclusion that shooting over Porzingis at full extension is the equivalent of shooting over a charter bus.
Porzingis has put those skills to use with his shot-blocking and general deterrence, as evidenced by his ranking of No. 4 in opponent field goal percentage at the rim in 2016-17.
Beyond his rim protection, Porzingis has been developing into a versatile defensive player. He’s still polishing his fundamentals, but he’s already displaying a willingness to step out to the 3-point line, as well as an ability to switch on the pick and roll.
As Porzingis improves his footwork and upper and lower body strength, the result could be a Defensive Player of the Year award.
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The New York Knicks have a rare opportunity to build around an elite defensive anchor who can also be a go-to scorer. Trading Kristaps Porzingis shouldn’t be an option.