Better prospect: Porzingis or Hezonja?

[doordoor123]

I haven't seen much of him so I'm not going to say anything with real conviction, but the way people talk about Porzingis just makes him sound a lot like Yi Jianlian. Strength and toughness can be gained, but if he's having trouble keeping up with slower and less athletic European teams even though he's longer and more athletic than most of the guys he's going up against, that's not a good sign.

Yi's frame couldn't carry more weight and he didn't really have the personality or drive to get much better. Porzingis looks like he can fill out quite a bit. I think his body fills out the way Dirk's body did. I actually see the comparison.

[E-Balla]

Porzingis is in another class as a player right now and as a prospect. Hezonja is the European JR Smith.

[doordoor123]

I'm surprised the majority is wrong.

[Teen Girl Squad]

Porzingis is in another class as a player right now and as a prospect. Hezonja is the European JR Smith.

This basically. There were rumors in LA that Porzingis was a front runner for the Lakers if they stayed at 4/5 and that they might have taken him at 3 over Russell. Of course that is a rumor but there are a lot of people who like Porzingis as a prospect.

[Leslie Forman]

Yi's frame couldn't carry more weight and he didn't really have the personality or drive to get much better. Porzingis looks like he can fill out quite a bit. I think his body fills out the way Dirk's body did. I actually see the comparison.

Yi became pretty freaking ripped. His problem was the complete lack of NBA-quality IQ, instincts and motor.

That's what's worrying about Porzingis, those are the things that people seem to be wary of about him. It could all be unfounded, I don't know enough about the guy, but if they are legit worries then he should probably be drafted quite a bit lower than where he's being projected right now. His Draftexpress scouting video was really not flattering at all.

[903124]

http://www.bazegod.com/sports/2015/5/20 ... white-nope
Someone post the link on reddit to explain why he's bad. What I concern is from his article there is an Andrea Bargnani highlight before he is drafted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzqJyADNaJI.
From the clip he seems to be mobile and shooting pretty well. For me picking Bargnani who peak at 20ppg at late lottery(10-15 pick) is a good deal. If Porzingis is picked at the range it is ok but at least he will be picked behind Hezonja.

[Von Bismarck]

Hezonja is the European JR Smith.

That's a myth that somehow became 'the truth' here on the REAL GM forums. Please back it up with some evidence or stop typing nonsense

[MrTwister]

Hezonja is the European JR Smith.

That's a myth that somehow became 'the truth' here on the REAL GM forums. Please back it up with some evidence or stop typing nonsense

That's what he usually do, no reason behind it

[doordoor123]

http://www.bazegod.com/sports/2015/5/20 ... white-nope
Someone post the link on reddit to explain why he's bad. What I concern is from his article there is an Andrea Bargnani highlight before he is drafted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzqJyADNaJI.
From the clip he seems to be mobile and shooting pretty well. For me picking Bargnani who peak at 20ppg at late lottery(10-15 pick) is a good deal. If Porzingis is picked at the range it is ok but at least he will be picked behind Hezonja.

FYI, that article is poorly written based on feeling. Porzingis CAN gain more weight (already looks bigger) and he has flashes of really great moments (much like LaVine last year). He has shown potential as a good offensive rebounder, jumping and using his length to reach around guys. His body looks a lot like Dirks body when he entered the NBA. His vertical is also underrated. His shot is almost unguardable at 7'0 with a high release. He's a little bit of a project, but he won't be a bust. Teams are weary of players like this because no one wants Darko Milicic or Andrea Bargnani. If he had THAT much busy potential, he would at least be at the end of the lottery.

[cammac]

Both will be above average players if you want immediate results Hezonja with his height a great SF but will peak just below tier 1 SF.
Porzingis can be a devastating PF but will take more time 3 to 4 years could be top tier.
Then again both can be busts but at 6,7,8 great deals.

[doordoor123]

Hezonja reminds me of Gerald Green. Great at scoring in transition, gets a steal off-ball once in a while, not a great dribbler, super athletic, makes threes, and pretty fast. He's not going to be a great creator in the half-court, but can compensate with his three point shot and quickness.

[Von Bismarck]

Hezonja is quite good in creating actually, especially in p'n'r. Anyways, his best case scenario is Klay Thompson, worst case scenario Rudy Fernandez.

As for Porzingis. I somehow have a feeling he won't be able to translate his game to the NBA in the way people expect.

[doordoor123]

Hezonja is quite good in creating actually, especially in p'n'r. Anyways, his best case scenario is Klay Thompson, worst case scenario Rudy Fernandez.

As for Porzingis. I somehow have a feeling he won't be able to translate his game to the NBA in the way people expect.

I meant creating for himself (on Hezonja).

I think people just want to be afraid of Porzingis. There have been overseas players that haven't worked out and people are making comparisons to failed players based on his look. It's the same people that compare Michael Vick to every black quarterback. And it's the same when someone calls a white player "sneaky athletic" as if you don't expect a white player to be athletic.

[Barnsey]

Hezonja reminds me of Gerald Green. Great at scoring in transition, gets a steal off-ball once in a while, not a great dribbler, super athletic, makes threes, and pretty fast. He's not going to be a great creator in the half-court, but can compensate with his three point shot and quickness.

I can see that, for sure.
I would add that Hezonja's probably a better passer than Green though.

I think people just want to be afraid of Porzingis. There have been overseas players that haven't worked out and people are making comparisons to failed players based on his look. It's the same people that compare Michael Vick to every black quarterback. And it's the same when someone calls a white player "sneaky athletic" as if you don't expect a white player to be athletic.

That's silly. The bottom line is that Kristaps doesn't have an NBA body. Yes he's tall, but he's frail, and not explosive. People will say "but he has great mobility for his height" - yeah that's because he's so light!! In terms of Mass vs Mobility he's nothing special, and as soon as he adds weight he will lose any of his quickness advantage. But if he doesn't add weight he will get abused. Also, he has poor basketball instincts. Yeah, i'll pass on him. Hopefully he doesn't fall to Rockets at #18.

[Chuck Everett]

Unfortunately, you are asking people who actually have favorite teams. When some of these guys are mystery men, unlike a Joel Embiid (who played at Kansas) or Svi (KU) or Ben Simmons (LSU) or Skal Lasbissierre (UK), we get to evaluate them for a year against top American prospects. This isn't the middle of the 2000's anymore. American prospects are dominating their international peers en masse nowadays, so we need to see these guys tested against the best, not against guys who will never play in the league.

I mean as good as Mirotic was as a rookie, does anyone really see him becoming an all-star/all-NBA player more than once? The only Euros who have been making the all-star teams in the league recently are the Gasol's, Dirk and Tony Parker.

[doordoor123]

Hezonja reminds me of Gerald Green. Great at scoring in transition, gets a steal off-ball once in a while, not a great dribbler, super athletic, makes threes, and pretty fast. He's not going to be a great creator in the half-court, but can compensate with his three point shot and quickness.

I can see that, for sure.
I would add that Hezonja's probably a better passer than Green though.

I think people just want to be afraid of Porzingis. There have been overseas players that haven't worked out and people are making comparisons to failed players based on his look. It's the same people that compare Michael Vick to every black quarterback. And it's the same when someone calls a white player "sneaky athletic" as if you don't expect a white player to be athletic.

That's silly. The bottom line is that Kristaps doesn't have an NBA body. Yes he's tall, but he's frail, and not explosive. People will say "but he has great mobility for his height" - yeah that's because he's so light!! In terms of Mass vs Mobility he's nothing special, and as soon as he adds weight he will lose any of his quickness advantage. But if he doesn't add weight he will get abused. Also, he has poor basketball instincts. Yeah, i'll pass on him. Hopefully he doesn't fall to Rockets at #18.

All of a sudden everyone on RealGM is an expert on bodies. Just because he's skinny doesn't mean his body can't hold weight. Until I see an official report, I'm not convinced. He's not completely without explosiveness, he just isn't elite athlete explosive. If Dirk can still play in the condition he's in and still be a star, I don't see why Porzingis can't. The question is more "will he" rather than if he can be.

[Barnsey]

I mean as good as Mirotic was as a rookie, does anyone really see him becoming an all-star/all-NBA player more than once? The only Euros who have been making the all-star teams in the league recently are the Gasol's, Dirk and Tony Parker.

I can see it

[teerfour+40LG]

Man, these Dirk comparisons have to stop. Porzingis is about as mobile as Dirk was . . . when Dirk was about 33, and Dirk was a lot stronger and heavier then.

[doordoor123]

Man, these Dirk comparisons have to stop. Porzingis is about as mobile as Dirk was . . . when Dirk was about 33.

Porzingis is very mobile. It's the reason he's even considered as a top pick.

[Barnsey]

Man, these Dirk comparisons have to stop. Porzingis is about as mobile as Dirk was . . . when Dirk was about 33.

Porzingis is very mobile. It's the reason he's even considered as a top pick.

His mobility X mass isn't strong. Put some weight on him and he'll lose any mobility advantage. Look what happened with Jonas Valanciunas. Even Chris Kaman was considered athletic before he put on muscle.