Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Hoops Rumors Originals

Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/20/17 – 5/27/17

May 27th, 2017 at 12:21pm CST by Joshua Fischman

Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team compiles original content to complement our news feed. Here are some of our favorite segments and features from the past seven days:

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: New York Knicks

May 27th, 2017 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The 2016/17 Knicks season will be remembered for many things: Phil Jackson subtly – and then blatantly – suggesting the team would be better off without Carmelo Anthony; Charles Oakley being ejected and banned from Madison Square Garden; Derrick Rose disappearing with no explanation before a game; Joakim Noah receiving a 20-game suspension; Kristaps Porzingis skipping his exit interview.

New York’s results on the court were practically an afterthought, but they weren’t good either (31-51 record). So in addition to upgrading the roster, Knicks management will have to work this offseason to rebuild the franchise’s one-time reputation as a top destination for NBA players.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Knicks financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Player Options

  • None

Team Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Restricted Free Agents

  • Ron Baker ($1,512,611 qualifying offer / $1,512,611 cap hold)
  • Total: $1,512,611

Cap Holds

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $19,588,175

  • Adding the Knicks’ eight guaranteed salaries to cap holds for their first-round pick and three empty roster spots, the team’s salary totals $81,411,825. Even after waiving their three non-guaranteed players and renouncing free agents like Rose, Holiday, and Baker, that wouldn’t be nearly enough for a maximum-salary contract, so the Knicks will have to get creative – or dump salary in a Carmelo trade – if they want to make a splash in free agency.

Footnotes:

  1. Ndour’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
  2. Plumlee’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($100,000) after June 30.
  3. Rose’s cap hold is his maximum salary, based on a $101MM cap projection. If the salary cap is higher than $101MM, Rose’s cap hold would increase along with it, up to a maximum of $31,984,878.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 5 Share 0 Send via email0

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Sacramento Kings

May 26th, 2017 at 6:40pm CST by Luke Adams

After flirting with possible playoff contention in the first half, the Kings opted instead for a full rebuild, sending DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans over the All-Star break for what was widely considered to be an underwhelming trade package. But with Buddy Hield playing well down the stretch and the Pelicans’ pick turning into a top-10 selection, the return on Cousins doesn’t look too bad anymore — and some lottery luck ensured that Sacramento will also have a top-five pick in June. Hitting on those two lottery selections would help get the Kings’ rebuild get off to a great start.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Kings financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Player Options

Team Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

  • Arron Afflalo ($11,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.2
  • Anthony Tolliver ($6,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.1
  • Total: $17,000,000

Restricted Free Agents

  • Ben McLemore ($4,187,598 qualifying offer / $10,022,205 cap hold)
  • Total: $10,022,205

Cap Holds

Trade Exceptions

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $55,844,782

  • The Kings have cap holds for a pair of top-10 draft picks to account for, but their guaranteed contracts don’t amount to much. Taking into account their draft picks, guaranteed salaries, and three cap charges for empty roster spots, the Kings would have just $45,155,218 in team salary. However, that would hinge on Galloway turning down his player option, Afflalo and Tolliver being waived, every free agent leaving, and Bogdanovic not being signed this season, so Sacramento is unlikely to have quite that much room heading into free agency.

Footnotes:

  1. Tolliver’s salary reportedly becomes fully guaranteed after June 1.
  2. Afflalo’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 23.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 5 Share 0 Send via email0

Five Key Offseason Questions: Toronto Raptors

May 26th, 2017 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors remain in the midst of their best multiyear stretch in franchise history. After never winning more than 47 games in a season during the first 18 years of their existence, the Raps have topped that total in each of the last four years, recording 50+ wins for the second time in 2016/17. After winning only one playoff series in the first 20 years of the team’s existence, Toronto notched three postseason series victories in the last two seasons.

Still, the Raptors’ 2016/17 season ended on a sour note. After acquiring Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline in an effort to seriously threaten the Cavaliers in the East, Toronto was thoroughly outmatched in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, failing to win a single game against Cleveland. The resounding defeat created uncertainty about what the future looks like for the Raptors, particularly since key players like Ibaka, Tucker, and Kyle Lowry are unrestricted free agents this summer.

Here are five important questions facing the Raptors as they enter the offseason…

1. Can the Raptors afford to re-sign multiple key free agents?Kyle Lowry vertical

Before considering whether or not it makes on-court sense to re-sign several of their key free agents, the Raptors will need to determine exactly how far into tax territory ownership is willing to go to keep this roster intact. With about $77MM already in guaranteed salaries on the books for 2017/18, the club would likely need to commit another $60MM+ to re-sign Lowry ($30MM), Ibaka ($20MM), and Tucker ($10MM). And that’s assuming Patrick Patterson, another valuable rotation piece, doesn’t return, since team president Masai Ujiri has said it’s not realistic to bring back all four players.

Those salary figures are estimates, but I think they’re in the general ballpark, and they’d put the Raptors way over the projected $121MM tax line. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the Raptors, has no shortage of money available, but it’s not like this is a championship roster that needs to be kept intact at any cost. Ownership will almost certainly draw the line somewhere — depending on where that line is drawn, it may not be realistic for the Raptors to re-sign certain free agents unless they move other contracts in trades.

2. Can the Raptors afford not to re-sign multiple key free agents?

After watching the Cavaliers’ decimation of the Raptors in this year’s playoffs, it’s easy to say Toronto should blow up its roster, focus on adding young talent, and work toward contending a few years from now, when LeBron James‘ peak is over. But that’s much easier said than done.

Read more

Retweet 16 Share 0 Send via email0

Poll: 2013 Draft All-Star Appearances

May 25th, 2017 at 6:22pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The 2013 NBA draft class was initially thought to be one of the worst in league history, though its talent has proven that it doesn’t belong in that conversation. Several players have developed into solid rotation players and some of the prospects have become pillars for their teams to build around.

Many of the players will see new deals kick in next season from extensions that were previously signed and others will agree to new deals in restricted free agency this summer. The collection of talent is deeper than initially anticipated, but the group lacks star power compared to other draft classes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the 2013 draft class’ only true superstar. He made his first All-Star appearance this year (the group’s only appearance ever) and he’ll likely participate in the exhibition games for years to come.

Outside of Milwaukee’s star, Rudy Gobert stands the best chance to earn multiple All-Star appearances, though C.J. McCollum could also easily accomplish that feat.

Nerlens Noel could possibly earn an All-Star nod down the road if he expands his game and takes on a bigger role, but is that likely? Maybe Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dennis Schroder develop into more efficient, productive versions of their respective selfs over the next few seasons. What if Otto Porter signs with a team that gives him a bigger piece of the offensive pie and he’s able to maintain his efficiency? Perhaps Steven Adams is allowed to rebound again now that Russell Westbrook accomplished his triple-double conquest and he morphs back into the player who dominated the Warriors early in the Thunder’s 2016 Western Conference Finals appearance.

All of those scenarios are unlikely and I’d peg the over-under for total All-Star appearances in this particular sub-group at an uninspiring 1.0.

So here’s tonight’s poll question: Which side will end up having more All-Star appearances: Antetokounmpo or the remainder of the 2013 draft class? Don’t limit yourself to a click of a button. Do you believe someone in the draft class isn’t properly represented? Are we underrating someone’s potential? Let us know in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Retweet 5 Share 0 Send via email0

List Of Early Extrants Exceeds Draft Spots

May 25th, 2017 at 2:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The deadline for NCAA players to withdraw their names after declaring for the draft passed on Wednesday evening. The number of American early-entry candidates that opted to officially leave school and stay in the draft exceeded the 60-player draft that the NBA will conduct next month.

While no official list has been released, we count 63 NCAA early-entry prospects who will be waiting for their name to be called. Our updated list can be found here. The final draft list will be set after the early entrant withdrawal deadline for international and other non-NCAA players passes on June 12.

One of the recent surprises among players remaining in the draft was North Carolina State freshman big man Ted Kapita. He is not listed among the Top 100 draft prospects by DraftExpress.

Among the late withdrawals who were in DraftExpress’ Top 60 included Maryland small forward Justin Jackson (No. 31), Kentucky shooting guard Hamidou Diallo (No. 42) and Texas point guard Andrew Jones (No. 54). (Twitter link).

Other players who made late decisions to remove their names from the draft include USC’s Shaqquan Aaron, Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett, Florida’s John Egbunu, Arkansas’ Daryl Macon, Kansas’ Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and Stetson’s Divine Myles and Derick Newton.

Retweet 2 Share 0 Send via email0

Five Key Offseason Questions: Minnesota Timberwolves

May 25th, 2017 at 12:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Timberwolves were one of the most disappointing teams in the league during the 2016/17 campaign. Blessed with two of the league’s top young players in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the Tiimberwolves made a bold move after last season and hired Tom Thibodeau as their coach and president of basketball operations.

Long considered a defensive guru, Thibodeau was supposed to greatly improve the club’s mindset and turn its fortunes around quickly. It didn’t happen, as the Timberwolves finished at 31-51 — just two games better than the previous season — and finished 28th in defensive field-goal percentage at 47.5%.

While Thibodeau’s first season with the franchise didn’t go as planned, there’s still plenty of optimism that he’ll guide the Timberwolves into the postseason as soon as next season. However, he’s got a lot of work to do this summer to make that happen.

Here’s a look at the major questions confronting the club this offseason:

Apr 11, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard <a rel=1. Will the Wolves finally trade Ricky Rubio?

Rubio’s name has circulated around the rumor mill ever since Thibodeau took charge. The rumors only intensified when Thibodeau drafted Kris Dunn as his future floor leader last June.

The Knicks, Pistons, Mavericks and Kings are among the teams that have been mentioned as possible trade destinations for Rubio. To his credit, Rubio didn’t seem to be affected by the talk once he took the court. He averaged career highs with 11.1 PPG and 9.1 APG but it doesn’t make sense to keep this awkward situation in place for another year.

Thibodeau may be having second thoughts about Dunn but it won’t affect his desire to make a change at point guard. He reportedly plans to target Knicks point guard Derrick Rose in free agency.

Whether the club is successful in landing Rose or opts to give Dunn a shot to prove himself, the Timberwolves need to move on from Rubio. The flashy European still has two years and approximately $29MM left on his contract but that shouldn’t be a major impediment, considering the going rate for a starting point guard these days.

2. Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are eligible for rookie extensions. What should the Wolves do?

The Wolves will probably have to max out Wiggins to keep him. As long as they view him as the second- or third-best player on a perennial contender, they should do everything possible to make that happen. Wiggins averaged 23.6 PPG in his third season and improved his 3-point shooting to a respectable 35.6%.

Negotiations with LaVine figure to be much trickier. He was enjoying a breakout season, averaging 18.9 PPG and 3.0 APG, when he tore his ACL in a February game at Detroit. There’s no word whether LaVine will be ready for the start of next season, but even if he doesn’t miss much time, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be the same explosive and ultra-athletic player.

The Timberwolves could take a wait-and-see approach with LaVine and then try to re-sign him when he enters restricted free agency after next season. However, if LaVine and his reps are willing to give the team a discount in the $15MM per year range, instead of betting that he’ll be the same player after the injury, then the sides could come to an agreement.

3. What are Minnesota’s greatest needs on the trade and free agent market?

Thibodeau said just after the season that he’ll be targeting wing defenders, shot-blockers and shooters.

Of course, if the club pursues Rose, the budget to fill all those other needs will shrink.

It’s also quite possible that Thibodeau will try to do something bolder — perhaps package Rubio or Dunn and the No. 6 overall pick to see if he can pry Jimmy Butler from the Bulls or a similar All-Star level player.

If Nikola Pekovic retires as expected, the Wolves would have up to $32MM to sign Rose or another solid starter, as well as fortify their bench. Danilo Gallinari, J.J. Redick, Nikola Mirotic or Dion Waiters would give the club the quality outside shooter Thibodeau covets. P.J. Tucker would be a great fit as a wing defender, while Taj Gibson or Serge Ibaka would help Minnesota’s interior defense.

4. Should the Wolves re-sign Shabazz Muhammad?

Thibodeau said that he wants to retain the swingman, who has been one of their main reserves over the past three seasons. He’ll be a restricted free agent once the Timberwolves extend a qualifying offer.

While the Timberwolves can match any offer sheet, it’s doubtful they’ll go completely overboard to keep him with the need to lock up Wiggins and Towns in the near future.

The Nets reportedly are interested in Muhammad, a solid scorer but subpar 3-point shooter. Given the money the Nets threw at Donatas Motiejunas, Tyler Johnson, and Allen Crabbe — only to see those offer sheets matched — the Timberwolves could have a tough call if Brooklyn or another suitor tries similar tactics with Muhammad.

5. Which player could the Wolves choose with the No. 7 pick?

Kentucky’s Malik Monk would fill the need for a big-time shooter who can score in bunches. Monk averaged nearly 20 PPG in his only season with the Wildcats and shot 39.7% from long range. With the uncertainty surrounding LaVine’s health, he could step right in at the shooting guard spot if LaVine is slow to recover.

Florida State’s combo forward Jonathan Isaac would be an intriguing choice, considering the athleticism and length he brings to the table. He has the ability to guard multiple positions, filling a major need for a defensively-challenged club.

Gonzaga’s Zach Collins would be a bit of a reach at this point of the draft but he would complement Towns’ skill set with his size and shot-blocking prowess.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Timberwolves financially:

Guaranteed Salary

Player Options

  • None

Team Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Restricted Free Agents

  • Shabazz Muhammad ($4,187,598 qualifying offer / $7,615,748 cap hold)
  • Total: $7,615,748

Cap Holds

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $32,037,943

  • Although Pekovic remains on the Timberwolves’ books, medical retirement appears likely for him. If that becomes official, the Wolves could remove Pekovic’s charge from their cap, leaving the team with nine guaranteed salaries, a cap hold for a first-round pick, and two cap hits for empty roster spots, totaling $68,962,057. That would leave enough room to offer a maximum-salary contract to any free agent with less than 10 years of NBA experience.

Footnotes:

  1. Hill’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Retweet 4 Share 0 Send via email0

Hoops Links Vol. 6: Coleman Flashbacks, Biedrins Flashbacks, More

May 25th, 2017 at 10:00am CST by Austin Kent

Welcome back to Hoops Links. Here we round up some of our favorite blog content that we come across over the course of the week. As always, we’d like to encourage writers to send us their best stuff for possible inclusion in future editions. Remember, what we’re looking for is unique, entertaining material that showcases why the internet is so gosh darn fun.

Send your best pieces to HoopsRumorsTips@Sports.ws or simply yell at me on Twitter (@AustinKent). Similarly, you can flag down any Hoops Rumors staffer at a grocery store and immediately hit them up with a choreographed dance routine explaining why your Jared Dudley hot take deserves top recognition in next week’s link dump.

Note: We typically publish Hoops Links on Thursday, but next week’s edition will be published on Friday (June 2). This will be a one-time change so that we can all observe Smush Parker‘s birthday privately with our families. We’ll slide back to Thursday for Hoops Links Vol. 7 on June 8.

Ben Simmons verticalThe skill set that Ben Simmons has shown and the college numbers he produced during his one year at LSU are on par with some of the greatest of our generation. Much of his success, however, will come down to circumstance. Can the Sixers ensure that Simmons is in a situation to live up to his potential? Or, as Kwame Fisher-Jones of the 76er Files cautions, is he destined to underachieve like similarly versatile former Sixers forward Derrick Coleman?

Rating: 8 out of 10 NBA Jam Legends
Author: Kwame Fisher-Jones – @MrJonesNBA
Link: Ben Simmons’ potential

When LeBron James clanged a wide open dunk off the back of the rim in Game 4 of the Cavaliers–Celtics series, it robbed Kevin Love of a potential Assist of the Year. Not surprisingly, Carter Rodriguez of Fear the Sword has put the wheels in motion to file a formal petition to credit the big man with a much deserved assist anyway. What even is an assist when you think about it, man?

Rating: 9 out of 10 They Have A Points…
Author: Carter Rodriguez – @Carter_Shade
Link: Kevin Love’s outlet assist

In a world where nearly everything that takes place on a basketball court is trackable, the one thing that experts can’t seem to quantify is the impact team chemistry has on success. Brian Freeman of Blazer’s Edge explored the gaps in our understanding of team chemistry and suggests what might play a role in successful organizations capitalizing on it.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Intangibles
Author: Brian Freeman – @BrianFreeman_NBA
Link: Team chemistry in the NBA

The Warriors are the team NBA fans love to hate. Eric He of Blue Man Hoop, however, thinks that everybody needs to slow down, quit hating and actually appreciate the franchise. Given Golden State’s role in revolutionizing the league, he does have a point. Can’t we just be happy for the organization less than five years removed from giving Andris Biedrins a standing ovation for hitting a pair of free throws?

Rating: 8 out of 10 Monta Ellis Scooters
Author: Eric He – @EricHeSports
Link: Appreciating the Golden State Warriors

If Chris Bosh is able to fully part ways from the Heat and work his way back onto a basketball court, the Clippers should take a look at him as a possible reserve big man, Blake Harris of Clipperholics writes. Though his health will always be the most important consideration, Bosh could very well be a major steal for whichever club takes a chance on him.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Mo Speights Replacements
Author: Blake Harris – @BlakeHHarris
Link: Chris Bosh and the Clippers

There’s no denying that Kemba Walker has stepped up as the greatest New Generation Hornets player, but is he wasting his prime toiling away in mediocrity? For Swarm and Sting, Elijah Edwards discusses the idea of letting the point guard pursue success elsewhere if the franchise isn’t able to surround him with the help he needs to compete.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Miles Plumlee Contracts
Author: Elijah Edwards
Link: Trading Kemba Walker

Gordon Hayward verticalWhen Gordon Hayward hits free agency this summer, he’ll do so as perhaps the most coveted, reasonably attainable option on the market. Evan Dyal of Sir Charles in Charge took a good long look at the five most likely destinations for Hayward, delving beyond simply the Celtics and Jazz, two clubs regarded as frontrunners for his services.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Professional StarCraft Circuits
Author: Evan Dyal – @EvanDyal
Link: Gordon Hayward free agency

After his first year at the helm, Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder showed that he’s a worthy starter with plenty of room to grow. Thomas Jenkins of Peachtree Hoops recently broke down what might be in store for the 23-year-old, suggesting that so long as Schroder continues to develop, the club’s future looks bright.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Blonde Patches
Author: Thomas Jenkins – @TJenkins122
Link: Dennis Schroder potential

Admit it, you knew that it wouldn’t be long before the thorough analysis would come regarding whether or not the Celtics truly need Isaiah Thomas. For Nylon Calculus, Ian Levy broke down the situation, including Boston’s improbable Game 3 victory and the squad’s all-around improvement on the defensive end of the ball when Thomas is sidelined. The C’s don’t need to oust Thomas any time soon but they could afford to spare him if the right opportunity arose.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Scatter Plots
Author: Ian Levy – @HickoryHigh
Link: The Celtics without Isaiah Thomas

Don’t expect the fourth pick in the NBA Draft to turn things around for the Suns, Valley of the Suns contributor Robert Neal writes. So how does the franchise, then, figure out where to go after a tanked season gone awry? Neal explores ways the Suns can tangibly improve their roster without relying on a rookie.

Rating: 7 out of 10 #FreeChriss Campaigns
Author: Robert Neal – @RobertN4110
Link: Phoenix Suns offseason

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Retweet 5 Share 0 Send via email0

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Orlando Magic

May 24th, 2017 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic’s 2016 offseason, which saw them add Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo, and Jeff Green while giving up Victor Oladipo and their lottery pick, received mixed reviews at best. Critics of the team’s moves were ultimately proven right, as Orlando landed in the lottery again, moving Ibaka prior to the trade deadline in an attempt to salvage last summer’s deal before he reached free agency. The Magic’s roster isn’t exactly overflowing with talent, but the club has a pair of first-round picks and a little cap flexibility heading into the summer.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Magic financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Player Options

  • None

Team Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Restricted Free Agents

  • Damjan Rudez ($1,724,305 qualifying offer / $1,724,305 cap hold)
  • Total: $1,724,305

Cap Holds

  • Jeff Green ($18,000,000)
  • Jodie Meeks ($12,426,000)
  • No. 6 overall pick ($4,186,320)
  • No. 25 overall pick ($1,516,200)
  • Total: $36,128,520

Trade Exceptions

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $15,751,170

  • Orlando’s eight guaranteed salaries, cap holds for two first-round picks, and cap charges for two empty roster spots total $85,248,830 in team salary. The Magic aren’t likely to waive all their non-guaranteed players, but they don’t have any free agents they badly needs to bring back, so renouncing those FAs and getting close to their maximum cap room is possible.

Footnotes:

  1. Watson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 10.
  2. Zimmerman’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 6.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 3 Share 0 Send via email0

Community Shootaround: Knicks’ Coaching Decisions

May 23rd, 2017 at 10:04pm CST by marksuleymanov

With Kristaps Porzingis at odds with ownership, the Knicks made a questionable decision to part ways with popular development coach and Porzingis favorite, Joshua Longstaff. The 34-year-old had traveled to Latvia to work with Porzingis last summer and was expected to do the same this year, in addition to possibly holding down an assistant coaching role with the Latvian national team.

Curiously, the Knicks have decided to retain assistant coach Dave Bliss, sources tell Brian Lewis of the New York Post. Both Bliss and Longstaff were brought in under former head coach Derek Fisher and now, Bliss is the final holdover from Fisher’s staff. Coincidentally, during a recent chat with USA Today, Porzingis spoke of his satisfaction with both coaches.

“I’m happy for the coaches that we have, the development coaches. They’re doing an unbelievable job with us, the young guys, working really hard. Josh [Longstaff], Dave [Bliss] — those are my guys,’’ Porzingis said. “I’m getting better. It’s great to have coaches like that.”

Now, one of those coaches is gone and Bliss remains, almost as symbol of the Knicks’ dwindling relationship with their franchise star. Team president Phil Jackson has indicated his preference for superstar Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause; the same day Jackson initially made his stance on Anthony public, Porzingis elected to skip his exit interview with the team.

A recent meeting between Porzingis’ representation (older brother Janis Porzingis) and Jackson reportedly did little to resolve the apparent issues, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Janis has indicated his brother wants to remain in New York but he also wants to win.

In his first two NBA seasons, Porzingis has been a force; he increased his scoring from 14.3 to 18.1 PPG last season despite battling several nagging injuries. The 7’3″ forward has shown himself to be a potent shooter, scorer, and defender — a lethal triumvirate of skills that makes him a building block for the team.

This leaves several things to be considered: Did the Knicks make the wrong decision to fire Porzingis’ favorite coach amid their own issues with the Latvian forward?  Should the team have let Bliss go as well or was keeping him a compromise? Have the last few months caused irreparable damage to the Knicks-Porzingis relationship?

Share your thoughts on the Knicks’ moves below!

Retweet 9 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts