Can The New York Knicks Keep Kristaps Porzingis From Bolting In 2019?
The New York Knicks were riding a winning wave of emotion after the Carmelo Anthony fiasco with Kristaps Porzingis leading the way. However, that could all come to an end in 2019. What the Knicks are facing is the possibility of a rebuild with no real sign that a truce is coming. Kristaps Porzingis will be free to either stay or go after next season and the Knicks brass should be concerned.
The trouble started last offseason as Carmelo’s name was constantly brought up in trade rumors. Porzingis took a liking to Carmelo and viewed him as a mentor on the court. But, Phil Jackson and owner James Dolan wanted Carmelo gone and was willing to do whatever it took, even if that meant going against their future face of the franchise.
Once the Knicks season ended, Kristaps Porzingis left without speaking to Jackson during the exit interviews, then went against the Knicks wishes and played for his National Team. For some, the writing was on the wall that Porzingis and the Knicks weren’t on the same page. Rumors also swirled that Porzingis may have wanted out of New York himself.
It’s funny how time changes things, right? The Knicks got off to a good start this season with Porzingis is leading the way then it all crumbled. Porzingis went down with a season-ending injury, and the team never recovered. The Knicks would finish the year 29-53, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight year. But things could get worse.
Porzingis is rehabbing in Spain and just a few months earlier, Dolan went on record as saying “he won’t be surprised if Porzingis doesn’t play this year”. If that were to hold true, then the Knicks are really screwed. With the team going in a new direction coach-wise with David Fizdale, the team will need their on-court leader. The Knicks are dealing with so many issues that focusing on KP may not be at the top of the pile. But it should be.
Well, according to his brother, Janis Porzingis, K.P. will not base his free agent decision on money. TheNew York Knicks can offer Porzingis a max deal this summer, but it’s the loyalty and winning that Porzingis wants. After his brother offered this news up to The New York Daily News, K.P., of course, tried to downplay the situation.
Brother says Porzingis’ extension not assured https://t.co/AqnBzJqeYW #Knickspic.twitter.com/LlAzgkuC6g
— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) November 2, 2017
Could The New York Knicks Lose Kristaps Porzingis Next Summer?
The Knicks are hoping a few things will fall their way this summer. One of them is Enes Kanter. If Kanter decided to pot out then the Nicks will be faced with a tough decision. If they resign him, how much and for how long? A frontcourt of Porzingis and Kanter is imposing if both players are healthy. What’s more is how their PG situation will play out. The Knicks are still showing faith in Frank Ntilikina but the emergence of Trey Burke could keep Ntilikina as a reserve.
Even with Tim Hardaway healthy to begin the new season, is he really enough to turn those 29 wins in 50? The Knicks need more and if they can’t hit a home run with the No. 9 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, then what? If the Knicks can continue to make strides, will that be enough to keep Porzingis in Madison Square Garden?
That’s a tough one. Porzingis will be one of the top names in 2019 and with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors possibly searching, the Knicks could very well lose their franchise player. Money talks but winning speaks louder.
TheNew York Knicks are hoping he will sign their extension in the offseason but what if he doesn’t? What if Kristaps Porzingis decides to bet on himself and test the waters in 2019? There are teams out there with the cap space to steal him away and the Knicks have every reason to worry.
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Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
