New York Knicks sign 1st-round pick Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis, right, poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in New York. AP FILE PHOTO
NEW YORK— The New York Knicks have signed first-round draft pick Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia.
The team announced the signing of Porzingis Thursday, along with fellow NBA first-round pick Jerian Grant and the re-signing of forward Lou Amundson.
The 7-foot-3 (2.21-meter) Porzingis was the fourth overall selection in the recent draft and played professionally for Cajasol Seville in Spain the past three seasons. At the NBA summer league in Las Vegas this month, the 19-year-old averaged 10.5 points in four games.
READ: New York-bound Porzingis hopes to turn boos into cheers
Grant, a guard, was the 19th overall pick after averaging 14.6 points and 5.8 assists in four seasons with Notre Dame. In his senior season, he averaged 16.5 points and 5.8 assists in 38 games. In five summer league games, Grant averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 assists in five games.
Amundson averaged 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 41 games after signing with the Knicks in January.
Also Thursday, New York released guard Ricky Ledo. He averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 19.4 minutes in 12 games for the Knicks last season.
