Kristaps Porzingis isn’t coming to Tarrytown just yet.
On Sunday, Latvia advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championships with a 100-68 bashing of Montenegro in elimination play.
Porzingis, the 7-foot-3 Knicks phenom, starred again with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting, six rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes.
Latvia, with a record of 5-1, next plays Slovenia in the quarters. While president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry are in New York preparing for Sept. 25’s training camp, the Knicks have a host of scouts and personnel men in Europe.
In Latvia vs. Slovenia, the Knicks brass can view not only Porzingis but next year’s potential No. 1 pick, 6-7 forward Luka Doncic. Also on Slovenia is ex-Knick Anthony Randolph and point guard Goran Dragic. Doncic plays small forward/shooting guard, so he likely won’t match up with Porzingis.
That the Knicks scouts are eyeing Doncic is consequential. The Knicks’ new management team has stated in clear terms its goal this season is to develop young players, noting the team has all its first-round picks.
That seems code for a club looking to spend one more year in the lottery. Doncic, Michael Porter Jr. and Duke forward Marvin Bagley III, who was able to reclassify and jump past his high school senior year, are expected to be the top three studs in what is expected to be a sensational lottery.
The lottery format reportedly is expected to change in 2018 with a reform to lessen the incentive to tank. The Westgate Superbook has the Knicks at an over-under 30 ½ wins.
Meanwhile, Knicks center Willy Hernangomez also is still playing in the tournament as the stacked Spain club beat Turkey, 73-56, to advance to the quarterfinals against Germany. Hernangomez played just six minutes and scored two points.
Lithuania didn’t make the Round of 16, meaning Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas is soon on his way to New York. The championship game is next Saturday.
In a sign Carmelo Anthony is resigned to starting the season with the Knicks, he has sent encouraging texts to the three Europeans during the tourney, according to Euro journalist David Pick.