New York Knicks: Knicks shouldn’t be risking losing Kristaps Porzingis
By Alex Jordan
New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis will have to wait until next summer to re-sign with the team. The Knicks are taking a huge risk as they could lose Porzingis
The New York Knicks decided not to sign Kristaps Porzingis to a rookie extension before Monday’s deadline.
The move will give the Knicks an extra $10 million in cap space next summer. By waiting to next summer to re-sign Porzingis, the Knicks will be close to having enough cap space for a max player, whose salary would be between $32.7 million and $38.15 million.
The Knicks also waived and stretched Joakim Noah to create more cap space.
More from Empire Writes Back
- Caesars New York Promo Code: Win $250 Bonus GUARANTEED on ANY Bet!
- Last Chance Caesars Promo: Claim $1,250 Bonus for ANY MLB Bet!
- Caesars New York Promo Code Gives TWO Chances to Win Betting on Your Yankees!
- PointsBet New York Promo: FIVE $100 Bonus Bets to Back the Yankees or Mets!
- Caesars NY Promo: $1,250 Bonus to Celebrate the Return of Judge!
The Knicks are projected to have $31 million in cap space next summer. So why not sign Porzingis to a rookie extension?
The Knicks plan to go after the top free agents next summer, which includes Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler, although Irving has said that he plans to re-sign with the Boston Celtics, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.
New York believes that Porzingis is on board with the direction that they are heading. New head coach David Fizdale told Howie Kussoy of the New York Post:
"“Yeah, it’s been nothing to indicate anything different. I’m always looking at it from a connection standpoint, and there is nothing that’s told me that there’s any disconnection. He’s having fun with these guys, he’s engaging with me, with the staff. I just see a teammate out there, I see a guy that’s just trying to contribute in any way he can. And to me, that says [he’s] a guy that’s engaged and locked in.”"
Fizdale added:
"“All I know is he’s been awesome to have in the gym. It’s like having another coach. The film sessions, he speaks up as much as any coach on our staff. And what he has to say is exactly what we need said. He’s engaged in the practices, helping Mitchell [Robinson] along in a lot of this stuff. He’s kind of taken him on a little bit to fast-track him. … So that’s the part I’ve been paying attention to. How he’s been leading, how he’s been engaging and I’ll leave that other stuff to [the front office].”"
While I understand that the Knicks want to go after free agents next summer, I don’t get why they didn’t sign Porzingis to an extension.
I think that it’s not a smart move and the Knicks are risking losing Porzingis, who is one of their best players.
Next summer, Porzingis will be a restricted free agent and the Knicks can match any offer he gets.
While the Knicks believe Porzingis is on board and hope to re-sign him next summer, not re-signing him now is a huge gamble because he could decided not to re-sigh and threaten to play one season at a reduced salary to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
Porzingis averaged 22.7 points and 6.6 rebounds last year before suffering a torn ACL, which will likely keep him out until at least December.
In his three-year career, Porzingis has averaged 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds. Like I said before, KP is one of the Knicks best players and this move by the Knicks isn’t smart at all because they could possibly be losing KP.
Next. What is the drama with OBJ now?. dark
Let’s hope that the Knicks don’t lose Porzingis otherwise they will regret this move.