It has been another eventful day in the NBA, as a new name has entered the rumor mill as a possible trade candidate: Kristaps Porzingis. Reports have suggested there is a “frenzy of interest” in Porzingis, and the Knicks haven’t shot down potential suitors, though their asking price is said to be very high. The Celtics are reportedly among the teams with interest.
As we wait to see how serious the Knicks are about moving Porzingis, here are a few more noteworthy updates on his possible availability:
4:48pm:
- A plugged-in source who spoke to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) says to “disregard” the Porzingis buzz, telling Beck that the Knicks are taking calls but aren’t shopping the Latvian.
3:42pm:
- The Sixers and Spurs were among the teams to call the Knicks about Porzingis, a team source tells Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com.
2:38pm:
- According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 in Phoenix (Twitter link), the Knicks asked the Suns for the No. 4 pick and Devin Booker in exchange for Porzingis. Gambadoro is as plugged in as anyone on Suns news, and asking for Booker makes sense for a team seeking a “front-line guard,” which we heard earlier. So this is perhaps an indication of New York’s asking price for Porzingis.
- One general manager tells Sean Deveney of The Sporting News (Twitter link) that the Porzingis rumor feels more like a “message” than something the Knicks are seriously considering. Deveney doesn’t speculate about the specifics of that message, but presumably it’s one aimed at Porzingis’ camp.
- League sources tell Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post (Twitter link) that Phil Jackson would like to dump Joakim Noah‘s contract in a Porzingis deal, though it’s not clear if that’s a deal-breaker. While getting Noah off the cap would certainly be huge for the Knicks, attaching him to Porzingis would risk significantly reducing the latter’s trade value.
Only team dumb enough to trade a future star
I don’t know if that’s true, but it made me laugh!
Wow Booker and the 4 pick? Whats Phil waiting for. That boy might be the next Kobe!
The what the Knicks wanted from the Suns not what the Suns offered to the Knicks.
Phil is waiting for the suns to call back because they most definitely hung up when Phil said that
The Knicks asked the Suns for Devin Booker and the no 4 pick this year lmfao. Booker is the better player and the Knicks wanted him and a top pick shows how delusional the Knicks really are.
I don’t think many people would agree with that assessment. But the difference between Porzingis and Booker definitely isn’t the 4th pick of this draft.
Really? I think most people would agree that to this point Booker is the better player and at their peak I see Booker being a superstar and porzigis being an all star. Maybe I’m just biased being a suns fan but when I look at Booker I see a lot of Kobe in him. Not saying he will be that good but they are very similar offensively.
Booker is a volume shooter with poor efficiency at this point. Solid scorer doesn’t offer much after that
Would rather give up picks than Booker. TBH
According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 in Phoenix (Twitter link), the Knicks asked the Suns for the No. 4 pick and Devin Booker.
This is not a horrible trade.
Although, the Knicks should throw in a draft pick or someone else, a little something for the effort.
If the Knicks kicked in 8 Phoenix would have to consider it
A swap wouldn’t be bad deal for both.
That’s a terrible idea for Phoenix. While Porzingas probably has more upside than Bender and Chriss (and even Booker), the Suns would be giving up too much in a deal to marginally get better. Especially since Bender, Chriss, and Porzingas all play the same role/position. If the Knicks asked for Bledsoe, the #4 pick, and say another future pick/young player (not named Booker and maybe Chriss) I think Phoenix would accept that in a heartbeat. But the difference in value between Booker and Porzingas isn’t the #4 pick.
Never for Devin Booker.
Booker is the franchise player for the Suns alà Kobe Bryant !!!!
Easy trade. Pistons give up 12th pick, Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris for Porzingis and Noah
This isn’t a terrible idea.
Not nearly enough
Agreed. I think the Pistons would have to throw in another asset like a sign-and-trade Caldwell-Pope or Reggie Jackson. Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris are solid, if unspectacular, players but they aren’t anything special. Those 3 pieces might barely be enough for Porzingas. I doubt agreeing to take on Noah’s contract is enough to seal the deal.
It’s Markiaf Morris
Except that its not. “Markieff” plays for the wizards
Gosh if Phoenix pulls this off without Booker that’s a scary team down the line
CSN Chicago reports the Bulls are shopping Butler and one leave executive said “It’s either Boston or Cleveland, but he’s gone.”
Portland gets: Porzingis & Gerald Henderson
Knicks get: #15, #20, #26 from Portland + Okafor
Sixers get: Crabbe
-Portland can’t afford to salary match, and they can cut Henderson only taking on 4.3M sending out 18.5M
Knicks can get more. Rumblings in Boston that Jaylen Brown could be sent out as PART of the deal, and frankly I’d rather have just Brown than 3 late first rounders.
But unless Boston is willing to send some future firsts (that aren’t their own picks or kind of far down the line…like 2019-2020 down the line), the multiple first round picks might be more valuable. In theory, the Knicks could then package at least two, or all three, of those picks to acquire another lottery pick this year thus giving them two lottery picks this year. Or, worst case, the Knicks keep all three picks and now have 4 rookies from this draft to try to develop and build around. Brown is good, but then the Knicks have to deal with Porzingas playing them multiple times a year (if he were to go to Boston) for a couple of years at the least. Plus, Okafor’s inclusion would be a nice incentive.
PLEASE ANYONE BUT ALLEN FREAKING CRABBE
Philly says no. Crabbe for Okafor and Henderson contract. Why would the Sixers want to compromise their financial flexibility; Crabbe not worth it.
I think they would rather use their cap room, Okafor (and maybe Anderson) along with a second round pick or two to do something greater than land Crabbe.
I’d like to see them work something out with Portland directly, possibly for one of their first round picks.
How about the Sixers offer Oakfor + their #1 next year + 2 of this year’s 2nd round picks for Porzingis + Noah and his awful contract
“As the New York Knicks continue to figure out how to build their roster, shopping Kristaps Porzingis reportedly isn’t something they are doing.
B/R’s Howard Beck reported that while the Knicks have taken calls on Porzingis, they “aren’t shopping him” and to “disregard” talk the 21-year-old will be dealt.”