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Knicks Rumors: Kristaps Porzingis Loves New York, But Wants To Win

By Kenneth Teape

Apr 2, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) warms up prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) warms up prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks rumors: Kristaps Porzingis wants to remain in New York but made it clear winning is his No.1 priority.

New York Knicks rumors have begun focusing on their plans for the offseason. There is a lot to be done in New York. They have to go through the draft process, as they will be selecting in the top-10 of the 2017 NBA Draft. They have to figure out what to do with Carmelo Anthony as well.

This will be the first legitimate chance the Knicks have to add a running mate to franchise cornerstone Kristpas Porzingis. The Knicks need to begin building around their big man, and the 2017 NBA Draft will give them their first chance. There will also be some fence mending to do or else Porzingis could become someone else’s franchise cornerstone.

Porzingis made some headlines a few weeks ago when he skipped his exit meeting with the team. He cited the dysfunction surrounding the organization as his reason for skipping. There are also rumors that he will be taking a long break in Latvia. Long enough that he won’t be back in New York until closer to training camp.

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Porzingis cleared up some things talking to Sporta Avize, a Latvian magazine.

"“Absolutely, I want to stay here all my career,” Porzingis told Latvian magazine Sporta Avize, as quoted by Marc Berman of The New York Post. “But the thing I want most of all is winning. When the time comes, I will seriously start to think about it. Right now I just try to do my best.”"

Porzingis has experienced a lot of losing with the Knicks. The Knicks have gone 63-101 since selecting Porzingis fourth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Nothing has gone has the Knicks had hoped since then.

Phil Jackson changed course last offseason. He acquired veterans to appease Carmelo Anthony, and it backfired. The Knicks struggled in 2016-17 as the team fell apart at the seams. Jackson’s acquisitions did not work out, and his treatment of Anthony rubbed many people the wrong way.

Porzingis was one person that did not like how Anthony was treated by Jackson. While he was unhappy with how things went, Porzingis did say that the media drummed it up into a bigger story than it was.

"“This was a situation media did not hesitate to heat up more than it was in reality,” Porzingis said. “I think there was some mistakes from Phil – things he maybe shouldn’t (have) said or written, things that made the situation worse or made him not look good. But at the same time – it’s that kind of business. I understand.”"

Next: New York Knicks 2016-17 Regular Season Awards

There were very few positives to take out of this season. The Knicks started hot but tailed off as the season went on. It resulted in another season without qualifying for the postseason. But, they will at least have their lottery pick this time with a chance to add another building block next to Porzingis.

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