Knicks president Steve Mills offered some insight into the Kristaps Porzingis trade at a fan forum today, saying the Latvian star provided the team with an ultimatum and was very unlikely to re-sign this summer. Mills’ comments are captured in a video tweeted by #Knockstape of a JPM speaker event that Mills and GM Scott Perry attended.
“When he walked into our office, my office, and Scott was sitting there with me, and point blank said to us, ‘I don’t want to be here, I’m not going to re-sign with the Knicks, and I’ll give you seven days to try and trade me or I’m going back to Europe,’” Mills said.
The threat Porzingis was making was to go to Europe to train, not to play. No EuroLeague team could have signed him while he was under an NBA contract.
Porzingis was traded to the Mavericks in late January along with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee in exchange for Dennis Smith, DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two future first-round picks. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, and the Mavs are expected to offer him a max contract.
The trade was shocking when it was announced, but it appears to have been brewing behind the scenes for several months. Mills told the gathering that Knicks management had been taking offers for Porzingis since last September.
Porzingis sat out all of last season while he recovered from a torn ACL. He was reportedly the victim of an attack recently in Latvia.
Best the Knicks got was two future first and shedding THJ contract it’ll be interesting to see where those picks land though and if they’re protected.
The 2021 Pick is unprotected and the 2023 Pick is top 10 protected
Honestly, true, not or likely somewhere in between, good riddance to the Unicorn.
Too many things popping up about this guy’s personal life. His brother comes off as a jerk, and I really didn’t like his attitude or his lack of effort on D when an opportunity for a block didn’t present itself. I feel like this is a guy that will frustrate his team(s) moving forward with his attitude and health.
Whatever happened to the rape charge? Does the NBA suspend for that like the NFL?
The FBI is involved due to it being a potential extortion case. Will likely go on for a while.
Yeah, the Stooges did a great job trading KP for a bag of nuts. Moe should just keep quiet at this point, and let the trade speak for itself. Nobody who knows the RFA rules is buying that he “had to” trade him (everyone knows it’s 8 years of control).
I just hope the release of this many times repeated story isn’t a sign that the Stooges are losing confidence that they can sign KD/KI.
The real stooge thinks the answer was to keep him.
Great analysis. Apparently, it’s all you’re capable of, so I guess you have to go with it. Any relation to Stooges? If so, maybe the 4 of you can sit down with other FO guys and explain to them what they’ve been doing wrong all these years (decades) in dealing with RSC players RFAs that want out.
Yes, the timing, with the KD/LAC talk, and Kawhi’s legs still off but TOR 2-2 in the EC final. They will take care of him while being competitive, but Ballmer will want the surer thing. The Clippers have pivoted to the detriment of the Knicks.
Is Durant, who’ll be 31 before next year, a surer thing over the next 4 years-?
To be honest, Durant doesn’t try hard enough on the court to be a danger to his health, compared to Leonard, who twists & extends & can’t seem to get himself healed. And his problem doesn’t show up in x-rays.
Some are saying Durant is more miffed than injured… IDK, I guess that counts too if so.
I mean who can blame him for wanting out of the Knicks? Anyone would/should/must wanna get out & no one should wanna get in, right?
So kudos for KP6, finally now he is in a serious franchise with a winning culture with another star, maybe 2 in the team, so it is a win/win for him.
So that just helps you to respect more the man for wanting to better himself as a player.
He’s a putz and he’ll always be a putz.
Dallas is already sorry they made the trade and the Knicks and their fans are all stoked.
Knicks are a joke, they shouldn’t even be in the league, as simple as dude!
Dallas is a good serious, winning franchise were all the fans are happy to have KP6, they fleeced the Knicks, no one is regretting… well only the sorry Knicks!!!
Knicks did the right thing by trading him. The kid is walking around with a black cloud over his head.
Oh yeah he will be breaking down every season as he did with the knicks fleeced like hell?
Good riddance. Mark him fragile, handle with care.