Kristaps Porzingis - What Could Have Been?

[MCVicious]

I cant help but think of the multiple reports of the Hawks being linked to Kristaps Porzingis back in 2014 in relation to now. Say what you will about Danny Ferry's US talent picks but he has been money on those overseas picks. Look at the value he would have got at the 15th pick if Kristaps would have stayed in the 2014 Draft.  The kid is shooting up the draft board and killing his workouts. 

 

We wouldn't have wasted a pick on Adreian Payne either. I am willing to bet this was Ferry's first pick but he withdrew 10 days before the draft. This with the combination of Dario Saric being sniped by the Sixers probably forced Ferry into picking his 3rd or 4th choice in the draft in Payne. 

 

"Kristaps Porzingis (7'1, 220 pounds) was shooting up draft boards and considered a first-round selection for the 2014 NBA Draft--including rumors that the Atlanta Hawks among others were pushing for his agent to keep him in the draft." 

 

"Adreian Wojnarowski of Yahoo was first to report the news, but this is a move that could potentially change the course of Danny Ferry and company. There was substantial groundswell that the Hawks could be zeroing in on Porzingis with their first round pick, and even if that was more chatter than anything else, it certainly seemed like a reasonable fit for Atlanta."

 

"Porzingis has reportedly received assurances he'll be selected in the top-15 of the draft as enticement to stay in at the June 16th deadline according to sources close to the situation, and still needs to decide if he wants to accept that. He would likely stay another year in Spain and come over in 2015. It's possible that with another year of seasoning Porzingis could be selected much higher than this, but there are no assurances of that materializing. The Hawks have shown no qualms in the past about doling out promises to international prospects (for example Giannis Antetokounmpo last year), and many NBA teams feel strongly that they are the ones who offered him the guarantee."

 

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/3/12/8165493/nba-mock-draft-kristaps-porzingis-myles-turner-atlanta-hawks

 

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/6/11/5801396/2014-nba-draft-rumors-kristaps-porzingis-promise-atlanta-hawks

 

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/6/15/5813338/kristaps-porzingis-withdraws-from-2014-nba-draft

[ATLHawks3]

If we truly are in love with him, I wouldn't be suprised if the Hawks traded up.

 

Mack+Scott+15th pick for a pick between 5 and 10 should be enough. 

[Jody23]

There are some now saying he could be drafted in the top 3.