Kristaps Porzingis

Porzingis' excellent numbers continue to be overshadowed by what feels like constant injury issues. He appeared in just 43 games last season, effectively tanking his overall fantasy value. However, his averages were strong, as the big man ranked 40th on a per-game basis. In 30.9 minutes, Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 combined blocks-plus-steals. He also posted strong shooting splits of 48/38/86. However, he was a major disappointment in the first round of the playoffs against the Clippers, where Porzingis averaged just 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 33.3 minutes. Heading into 2021-22, fantasy managers don't need to be concerned about Porzingis' role. He's still the clear No. 2 option on the Mavericks and can still get better at 26 years old. But the question remains: how high should he be drafted given the injury history? Aggressive fantasy managers can reasonably draft him in the fifth or sixth round. Conservative managers can wait much longer but he has enough upside that he shouldn't slip too far.

After missing all of the 2018-19 campaign, Porzingis had a successful first season in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic. Before the All-Star break, there were nights where it seemed like Porzingis was still getting acclimated after so much time off, averaging 18.4 points on 41.6 percent shooting. After the break, however, he began to look like an improved version of who we saw last with the Knicks. During the final 15 games of the season (including the bubble), Porzingis averaged 26.0 points on 45.1 percent shooting, plus 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 threes, 2.7 assists, 2.4 blocks and 0.7 steals. Overall, Porzingis ranked 36th in fantasy (eight-category leagues, per game), but he certainly could have ranked higher had the first half of his campaign not been so up-and-down. Unfortunately, Porzingis will be entering 2020-21 coming off another injury, as he tore his meniscus during the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against the Clippers. It's already been determined that Porzingis will miss an undetermined amount of time early in the season, and extra rest days could be in store after that. Even with that being the case, optimistic fantasy managers can certainly make the case to draft Porzingis relatively high based on his post-All-Star performance in 2019-20.

Porzingis didn't play during the 2018-19 campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in February of 2018. He was in the midst of a career year when he suffered the injury, averaging 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 steals. Reportedly unhappy with the Knicks, Porzingis requested a trade last season, and he was dealt to the Mavericks. He and Luka Doncic look to make up one of the better young cores in the NBA, and all signs are pointing toward Porzingis being ready for the start of the 2019-20 season. In his 186 career appearances, the 24-year-old has racked up 14 performances with at least 30 points, 38 efforts with double-digit rebounds and 16 games with five-plus blocks. For fantasy owners, injury concern with Porzingis is legitimate, but the upside is impossible to ignore for the 7-foot-3 big man.

Porzingis had an impressive start to the 2017-18 campaign, showing improvements both offensively and defensively. Over the first 48 games, he upped his scoring to 22.7 points, marking an increase from 18.1 points a year prior. He also chipped in with 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.4 blocks. However, his season was then cut short after suffering a torn left ACL in February, resulting in a second straight season being significantly impacted by injuries. Considering the varying timetables for a return for that serious of an injury, Porzingis' availability for the upcoming campaign is uncertain. Some reports suggest the big man could be back by the end of December, while others have indicated there's a chance he's not back until February. The Knicks are also unlikely to be in the playoff race, so the team could be especially cautious with his recovery and bring him along slowly. For that reason, Porzingis carries a ton of risk and is more of mid-to-late round flier for those willing to bet on his health improving sooner rather than later. If he does get on the court, Porzingis carries elite point and block numbers, while he's also a reliable source of rebounds Adding on to that, he's got strong percentages and a respectable three-point game, knocking down 1.9 three-pointers at a 39.5 percent clip last year.

Porzingis showed plenty improvement in his sophomore campaign, While a back and thigh injury ultimately kept him to 66 games played, he still took on even more minutes as one of the up-and-coming youngsters on New York's roster. He appeared to become more comfortable as a shooter, shooting 45 percent from the field on his way to 18.1 points per game. He also demonstrated a more well-refined three-point stroke, hitting 1.7 three-pointers per game at a respectable 35.7 clip from the field. That allowed the 7-foot-3 Latvian big man to stretch the floor, though his athleticism still allowed him to get to the basket when needed. Porzingis also chipped in 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists, while operating as one of the better young rim protectors with 2.0 blocks per game, good enough for fifth in the NBA. Porzingis enters the 2017-18 season with some question marks over his future with the organization. His name was brought up in multiple trade rumors, though the organization ultimately shut those down and expect Porzingis to be one of their building blocks of the future. Carmelo Anthony, on the other hand, is expected to be traded and that leaves Porzingis as the top returning scorer, putting even more pressure on the 22-year-old as he heads into his third season. Without Anthony demanding the ball at a high rate and stopping the flow of the offense, Porzingis should benefit with better numbers across the board, especially as a scorer. If he takes the leap that many expect, the potential uptick in Porzingis' usage could result in yet another breakout season for one of the higher upside players on the roster.

Though some Knicks fans jeered Porzingis’ selection with the fourth overall pick in last June’s NBA Draft, it wouldn’t take long for the Latvian big man to take the Big Apple by storm. At 7-foot-3 with a massive wingspan and surprising mobility, Porzingis physical attributes alone allowed him to easily outclass his weak competition for the starting power forward role coming out of training camp, with former coach Derek Fisher carving out a 20-minute role for him to start the season. Thanks to his impressive size and athleticism and ability to stretch the floor, Porzingis quickly proved deserving of even more playing time while establishing himself as a potential franchise player for the Knicks. A shoulder injury robbed him of a few games to end the season, but Porzingis was still able to finish second in the Rookie of the Year balloting behind the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, ending the campaign with averages of 14.3 points, 7.3 boards, 1.9 blocks, 1.3 assists and 1.1 three-pointers in 28.4 minutes per game. At 21 years old, Porzingis has barely scratched the surface of his full potential and should be able to further refine his offensive game in 2016-17 while playing alongside one of the league’s premier defensive centers in Joakim Noah, who signed with the Knicks in free agency. On a less fortunate note, the addition of a shoot-first point guard in Derrick Rose may not enable Porzingis to notice a big jump in his shot attempts while Rose and Carmelo Anthony dominate most of the Knicks’ possessions, but Porzingis nonetheless stands to make more strides with his efficiency after shooting 42.1 percent from the floor as a rookie. Once he reaches his peak, Porzingis could consistently average 20 points and 10 rebounds with strong contributions in the blocks and three-pointers categories, making him an especially enticing asset in dynasty leagues.

Drafted fourth overall this summer, Porzingis enters his first NBA season with high hopes from Knicks fans, even if his game is somewhat unfamiliar to most. A 20-year-old Latvian, Porzingis played last season for Sevilla (Spain) and averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 22 minutes per game across 34 league appearances. Additionally, he impressively shot 46 percent while averaging 1.1 three-pointers in 16 Eurocup games. For a player standing 7-3, Porzingis' shooting range and touch is rather unique, and his mobility allows him to be a factor by blocking shots. To that point, Porzingis averaged 1.8 blocks in 21 minutes per game during the Las Vegas Summer League. Nonetheless, Porzingis' noticeably slight frame figures to limit his effectiveness initially, as chiseled frontcourt players could overwhelm him defensively and on the boards. Knowing that, Porzingis is targeting to weigh around 240 pounds before training camp, when the Knicks' lack of depth at power forward creates an interesting opportunity for the rookie. While president Phil Jackson has projected Porzingis' playing time to gradually extend from 20 minutes per game, the youngster's rare combination of size, skills, and athleticism could make him an enticing late-round sleeper selection or dynasty league commodity.