NBA Draft 2015: April Mock Draft -- Sacramento Kings select Kristaps Porzingis

With the sixth pick of the 2015 NBA Draft . . . the Sacramento Kings select Kristaps Porzingiz, from Latvia. And Vivek Ranadive goes with the first true international player of the draft, even going so far as to twist Vlade Divac' arm into going for someone who has the ‘soft' label . . . but I'm not going to hate on this pick. Porzingis is 6'11, but he's not going to be playing bully ball. I don't think he's the best player available, but his ability to be a stretch big on offense, move without the ball in transition, and be a solid defender makes him an ideal pair for DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is a big brute who is a load on offense with his back to his basket. I'm not crazy about his defense, effort, or ability to play system defense or even rotate. But Porzingis is supposed to be able to do all of that. This is a huge talent upgrade for the Kings who a) get to keep Rudy Gay happy, and b) it cleans things up a bit with the whole Ryan Hollins, Eric Moreland, Derrick Williams, Jason Thompson mess. Sure, Thompson and Carl Landry are both on the book for next season. But I think Kristaps ends up starting at some point because, well, because Vivek probably thinks that's what needs to happen. He's a talented guy and fits what Sac is trying to do better than the actual best players available on the draft board right now.