NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Open To Trading Kristaps Porzingis

Corey Hansford
2 Min Read
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the future stars in the NBA, everyone has New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis on that list. The 7’3 Latvian star has shined with the Knicks despite not being as much of a focus on offense as he probably should be.

At the end of last season, Porzingis grew extremely frustrated with the ongoing dissension in the Knicks front office, choosing to skip his exit meeting with the team.

Now, in a surprising move, the Knicks are supposedly considering trading Porzingis, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson is weighing the possibility of trading Kristaps Porzingis, an idea that’s inspired a frenzy of suitors across the NBA, league sources told The Vertical.

Even though Phil Jackson is considering the move, it won’t be cheap. According to Sam Amick of USA Today, the Knicks are asking for a lot in return:

That shouldn’t come as a surprise as Porzingis is already proving to be a truly unique and outstanding player, which is why the Knicks contemplating trading him is a shock. But they do know his worth and it would take a lot to get him out of New York.

The Knicks have reportedly made no attempt to reach or visit Porzingis in Europe since the end of the season. Additionally, they have met with Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen and view him as a potential replacement with their no. 8 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Porzingis seems ready to take a huge leap next season, but now no one is sure if it will be in New York. Last season he averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 35.7 percent from three-point range.

Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.