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The best Zinger in Gotham may no longer be Frank Isola's shots at Marc Berman.
As intrigue surrounding power forward Kristaps Porzingis intensifies ahead of Thursday's NBA draft, the New York Knicks worked him out privately Monday, according to the Isola and the New York Daily News.
The Knicks development comes as rumors swirl regarding the Philadelphia 76ers' interest in the 7-foot-1 Latvian at No. 3 in the draft, though the Sixers are known to play the smoke-screen game at this time of year. Porzingis also reportedly worked out privately for the Los Angeles Lakers, who pick second, last week.
Related: theScore's collaborative 1st-round mock draft
The Knicks select fourth. Should the Latvian be available, he could be in the mix with Emmanuel Mudiay - or, should Philly go a bit off-board, D'Angelo Russell. It's also possible the Knicks, like the Sixers, could be using misinformation to gain leverage in trade talks.
Porzingis' stock has been on the rise since wowing executives from several teams at a group workout in Las Vegas on June 12. The 19-year-old comes with a tantalizing skill set that has captivated scouts in the past: length and agility for a big with a deft shooting touch.
He skipped the NBA Draft Combine, but Impact Basketball released his unofficial measurements on Monday, and they're incredible. Porzingis stands 7-foot-1.25 without shoes and has a 7-foot-6 wingspan, the longest of any prospect in the draft. That length speaks to his defensive potential, though he'll need to do appreciable work on his 230-pound frame.
As team president Phil Jackson reiterated last week, the Knicks would like to take a big man, but they'll likely watch Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor go before they select. The wild cards in the draft's top five will be the Lakers - whether they trade their pick as some rumors suggest, or draft Russell, a guard - and the Sixers, whose unpredictability could see them take Porzingis despite needing backcourt help and a player like Russell.
If the Knicks do trade down to grab another big, it sounds like they could target Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles, or Frank Kaminsky, though the latter two are quite a reach at No. 4.
