UPDATE: The Dallas Mavericks moved swiftly to get a deal done with the Knicks for their star big man, as Marc Stein brought word less than an hour after news broke a Porzingis trade was possible that the Mavs were sending Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and more to New York for Porzingis and some of the Knicks larger contracts. You can read more on the details of the trade here.
Things are getting weird between Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks. The ultra-talented big man met with the organization on Thursday and, while early word was that he simply expressed concerns about the franchise’s direction, the buzz escalated later when reports broke that Porzingis “left the Knicks with the impression that he prefers to be traded” elsewhere.
As such, the speculation has already begun as to which teams might get into the running to acquire the 23-year-old standout and Adrian Wojnarowski brings word of five options.
The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are among many teams expected to pursue Kristaps Porzingis in a trade, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
Though it is important to note the inclusion of the phrase “among many teams,” this five-franchise group is an interesting starting place. The Nets boast an intriguing young roster and all kinds of flexibility with the obvious appeal of Porzingis staying in the New York City market. The Clippers have young pieces to potentially offer and, much like the Nets, bring the cache of a monster media entity. Elsewhere, the Heat always seem to lurk as a player for major talent (even with their ugly salary cap sheet) and the Raptors have the combination of a roster ready to contend in a present-day sense and flexibility down the line.
Finally, the Spurs could be something of a sleeping giant here, with ESPN’s Zach Lowe placing a special emphasis on the perennial playoff contender.
Keep an extra eye on San Antonio https://t.co/AU85kCb8Yh
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) January 31, 2019
Because Porzingis makes less than $5.7 million this season, deals can be easier to construct than with a typical player of his league-wide magnitude. On the flip side, Porzingis hasn’t appeared in a game since last February as a result of a major knee injury and, at the end of the 2018-19 season, he will face restricted free agency, making his market tough to gauge.
There is no question that Porzingis is a talented player that would fit well in a number of places but there are several factors in play, including the reality that the trade deadline looms in only one week. Between now and then, however, it feels safe to add this saga to the madness happening with Anthony Davis in New Orleans. Grab some popcorn and enjoy silly season.
