The liminal Latvian is equal parts promise and peril.
NBA draft prospects are games of chance. Once in a generation, a royal flush arrives, a Lebron, a Shaq, a Kareem. Karl-Anthony Towns could be a straight flush. He could be a straight. Kristaps Porzingis is a game of poker where everything's wild, from deuce to ace. He could be the best player this year. He could join the Tskitishvilis and Olawakandis in the Multisyllabic Busts' Pantheon of Illustriousness. 7'1", with a quick release, a wet jumper, infinite range, the athleticism to beat bigs off the dribble, the hops to finish strong, the height to post the sub-84-inchers of the world, and an unholy amalgam of wingspan and footspeed on defense feeding on the souls of NBA offenses.