New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis. (Photo : Getty Images)
New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher reportedly prefers 7-foot-3 Latvian rookie Kristaps Porzingis to start at the team's power forward position alongside small forward Carmelo Anthony over five-year veteran Derrick Williams.
ESPN's NBA Rumor Roundup mentioned that the four slots in Fisher's starting unit are already "set with (PG) Jose Calderon, (SG) Arron Afflalo, (SF) Carmelo Anthony and (C) Robin Lopez", and the no. 4 spot seems to be for Porzingis to lose.
"We'll see what happens with Kris, but I like him in there as well," said the second-year coach and Phil Jackson's former triangle offense floor general.
"The good part of all this, we can choose another guy and we'll be fine, too. That's what's different about this team," he added, referring to his current squad's frontcourt depth.
Aside from Williams, the other options for Fisher at no. 4 are former Orlando Magic player Kyle O'Quinn and veteran journeyman Lou Amundson.
The 2011 NBA Draft second overall selection was signed by the Knicks after he became a restricted free agent from the Sacramento Kings this summer. He is having a remarkable preseason so far, averaging 16.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in five games, which puts him on top of the Knick's four position in most NBA analysts' depth charts.
CBS Sports enumerated some of the reasons why Fisher wants the 20-year-old to be his starter, which are:
1.) He can space the floor with his outside shooting
2.) He will develop faster playing alongside veterans with high basketball IQ, and
3.) He would get better looks in the offense with Anthony mainly getting the attention of their opponent's defense.
However, the disadvantage is that Porzingis would be competing against the best power forwards of the NBA, such as Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph, Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh, and Dirk Nowitzki, all stronger, more experienced, and arguably more athletic than he is.
Fisher will certainly discover soon if he made the right decision with regards to his starters. And if ever the Porzingis experiment will not work out, he can always change things up soonest anyway.
