Kristaps Porzingis is up for free agency after a strong season with the Washington Wizards. Porzingis is now looking for a new home.
Kristaps Porzingis’ Background
Kristaps was the fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the NY Knicks. He is from Latvia and played professional ball in Spain before coming over to the United States to play in the NBA. Porzingis has an injury history that prevented him from playing a large number of games in NY, Dallas, and the Wizards.
However, Kristaps is coming off his best season as a professional. He averaged 23.2 points per game and shot 49.8% from the field, which are both career highs. The big man also added 8.4 rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis can add value to a team, but what are the strengths of weaknesses of the player’s game?
Kristaps’ Strengths
Three Point Shooting
Kristaps is a perfect big for the modern game. He shoots the three very well and has a great shooting touch. This past season, Kristaps shot 38.5% from three-point range on 5.5 attempts a game. With teams needing floor spacing to help create a better flow on offense, Kristaps’ shooting is a major bonus to a team.
He takes a good amount, which helps bring rim protectors away from the basket, and opens up driving lanes for slashing guards. Even more important, he improved from 36.7% to 38.5% this season. With his shooting touch rearing back into form, Porzingis is a valuable asset as a stretch 5.
Size
This goes without saying. Kristaps is huge. The big man is 7’3” with a long wingspan, which allows him to get shots off easily over defenders on offense. Being able to create shots is a premium in the NBA, and Kristaps’ size makes it easy for that to happen.
His size is a benefit on the defensive end as well. He averaged 6.6 defensive rebounds a game which was above average for big. More importantly, he blocked 1.5 shots a game. His size allows teams to use him to anchor their defense.
Athleticism
Kristaps is incredibly mobile. He runs the floor in transition very well and can attack off the dribble. He allows teams to use him as a finisher, playmaker in the open court, or a viable pick-and-pop threat. Kristaps is called the unicorn for a reason and it is due to his impressive athleticism.
Weaknesses
Availability
Kristaps struggles with his health. He played 65 games last season, the first time he played more than 57 games since 2017. With teams looking to have available stars, Kristaps’ health is a concern. He does not stay healthy enough and is seen as not dependable. With free agency coming upon us, Kristaps may not find the right home because of his questionable health.
Physical Strength
A problem throughout his entire career, Kristaps struggles with his thin frame. At only 240 lbs, he is slight in his frame. Therefore, he gets pushed off his spots on offense. He shoots a lot of jumpers, and that is due to his struggles with his strength. Stronger defenders can push him out of position and make him take longer hook shots or jumpers.
Teams with dense bigs like Memphis, Denver, the Clippers, and others benefit from having this big. Stronger bigs get position and grab rebounds because of their frames. Kristaps is not a bad rebounder, but he is not great due to his strength issues.
Team Success
When healthy Kristaps produces, but his team does not reap the benefits in terms of wins. He made the playoffs only twice in his career so far, and both appearances ended with a First Round exit. Also, he did not get along well with star Luka Doncic in Dallas. His failures in team success are troublesome for a contending team trying to add a talented piece.
Last Thoughts
Kristaps Porzingis is talented. He has a lot of skills to bring a team. However, his weaknesses are concerning and will make it tough for him in free agency. The big question is: will teams take the gamble?
