Phil Jackson: Knicks fielding calls on Kristaps Porzingis, not swayed yet
New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson confirmed Wednesday night that he has received calls in recent days from teams interested in trading for Kristaps Porzingis.
"We're getting calls. As much as we value Kristaps and what he's done for us, when a guy doesn't show up for an exit meeting, everybody starts speculating on the duration or movability from a club," Jackson said in an interview on MSG Network.
"So we've been getting calls and we're listening, but we're not intrigued yet at this level. But as much as we love this guy, we have to do what's good for our club."
Teams in touch with the Knicks indicated New York has not ruled out the possibility of trading Porzingis, though one opposing club said it came away with the impression that the price tag for the star forward was extremely high.
Jackson was asked why he would consider trading Porzingis, the Knicks' young star and a player regarded around the NBA as someone whom a franchise can be built around.
"The future, you know, what it brings," Jackson said. "Does it bring us two starters and a draft pick or something that's even beyond that? [That's] something we have to look at as far as going down the road. We know what he is. He's a unicorn and he's special.''
Jackson confirmed reports from both ESPN and The Vertical that the Knicks had received numerous inquiries about Porzingis in recent days.
Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that the Knicks had talks with each team positioned in the top five in the lottery trying to acquire both its pick and a young player with star potential for Porzingis. In particular, members of the organization have had recent conversations with the Phoenix Suns about a trade involving their No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft, and New York has had substantive talks with at least two other teams who have called about Porzingis, sources said. Some iterations of potential trades with the Suns have included Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender in recent discussions, per sources.
As ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Tuesday, the Knicks would target Kansas star Josh Jackson with that pick if they could do a deal before the draft
Sources also told ESPN that New York engaged the Oklahoma City Thunder in talks for Porzingis, but as one source said of the Knicks, "They don't have enough."
Porzingis skipped exit meetings with Jackson and general manager Steve Mills in April because of frustration over the dysfunction and drama surrounding the Knicks, who finished with a 31-51 record.
On Wednesday night, Jackson addressed Porzingis skipping the meeting.
"I don't think I've ever had a player over 25 years of coaching, maybe 30, not coming to an exit meeting, so it's not happened to me," Jackson said. "I know it happens to other people and other players. His brother and his agent have downplayed it, but still, it's a chance for a person to express themselves and I had a real good relationship with Kristaps over the last two years. So it was kind of surprising.''
Wednesday night, 76ers star Joel Embiid tweaked the Knicks for the situation.
In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal skipped his exit meeting with the Jackson-coached Lakers.
Porzingis' brother, Janis -- who also works for Andy Miller, Porzingis' primary agent -- reiterated Tuesday that Porzingis loves New York and wants to win there.
"Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York," Janis Porzingis said. "He loves the city, and he loves the fans and he wants to win with this team. If he's going to be traded, he's going to play out his contact and decide his future on his own."
Porzingis, 21, averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 2016-17, his second NBA season.
In what could be a sign that the Knicks are preparing for life without him, Jackson met with Arizona 7-footer Lauri Markkanen on Monday, he said. Markkanen plays the same position as Porzingis.
Jackson also reiterated Wednesday that he believes it would be best for Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause and resume his career with another team. He also said Anthony has expressed to the club that he'd like to remain in New York.
"Here's a guy that's really special, a Hall of Fame player who's done a lot for our organization and we value him highly,'' Jackson said. "This is something that is on the long-term kind of situational thing. We've expressed the fact that we've done a lot of things to put teams together that can win, and we haven't been successful, and it might be time for him to try to go somewhere else.
"[Anthony has] come back and said he'd just as soon stay. We're trying to start growing from the youth aspect of it. There will be conversations after the draft and after free agency when teams start reorganizing their rosters."
The Knicks talked to several teams about trading Anthony prior to the February deadline and remain set on dealing him this offseason.
Jackson also said Wednesday that he has spoken to Porzingis -- though not by phone.
"I've reached out. We've communicated. Not through voice or anything, although I've tried to call," Jackson said. "Yeah, and they say no worries. He's working hard. There's plenty of pictures on the internet about him working hard and working at it. So, yeah, we'll get it back."
A June 19 story incorrectly stated, via sources, there had been no contact between Porzingis and the Knicks since Porzingis skipped his April exit meeting. Team sources now say there has been minimal contact between members of the organization and Porzingis.
Source: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19702307/phil-jackson-confirms-new-york-knicks-fielding-calls-kristaps-porzingis-do-best-team
"We're getting calls. As much as we value Kristaps and what he's done for us, when a guy doesn't show up for an exit meeting, everybody starts speculating on the duration or movability from a club," Jackson said in an interview on MSG Network.
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| Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis. |
Teams in touch with the Knicks indicated New York has not ruled out the possibility of trading Porzingis, though one opposing club said it came away with the impression that the price tag for the star forward was extremely high.
Jackson was asked why he would consider trading Porzingis, the Knicks' young star and a player regarded around the NBA as someone whom a franchise can be built around.
"The future, you know, what it brings," Jackson said. "Does it bring us two starters and a draft pick or something that's even beyond that? [That's] something we have to look at as far as going down the road. We know what he is. He's a unicorn and he's special.''
Jackson confirmed reports from both ESPN and The Vertical that the Knicks had received numerous inquiries about Porzingis in recent days.
Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that the Knicks had talks with each team positioned in the top five in the lottery trying to acquire both its pick and a young player with star potential for Porzingis. In particular, members of the organization have had recent conversations with the Phoenix Suns about a trade involving their No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft, and New York has had substantive talks with at least two other teams who have called about Porzingis, sources said. Some iterations of potential trades with the Suns have included Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender in recent discussions, per sources.
As ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Tuesday, the Knicks would target Kansas star Josh Jackson with that pick if they could do a deal before the draft
Sources also told ESPN that New York engaged the Oklahoma City Thunder in talks for Porzingis, but as one source said of the Knicks, "They don't have enough."
Porzingis skipped exit meetings with Jackson and general manager Steve Mills in April because of frustration over the dysfunction and drama surrounding the Knicks, who finished with a 31-51 record.
On Wednesday night, Jackson addressed Porzingis skipping the meeting.
"I don't think I've ever had a player over 25 years of coaching, maybe 30, not coming to an exit meeting, so it's not happened to me," Jackson said. "I know it happens to other people and other players. His brother and his agent have downplayed it, but still, it's a chance for a person to express themselves and I had a real good relationship with Kristaps over the last two years. So it was kind of surprising.''
Wednesday night, 76ers star Joel Embiid tweaked the Knicks for the situation.
In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal skipped his exit meeting with the Jackson-coached Lakers.
Porzingis' brother, Janis -- who also works for Andy Miller, Porzingis' primary agent -- reiterated Tuesday that Porzingis loves New York and wants to win there.
"Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York," Janis Porzingis said. "He loves the city, and he loves the fans and he wants to win with this team. If he's going to be traded, he's going to play out his contact and decide his future on his own."
Porzingis, 21, averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 2016-17, his second NBA season.
In what could be a sign that the Knicks are preparing for life without him, Jackson met with Arizona 7-footer Lauri Markkanen on Monday, he said. Markkanen plays the same position as Porzingis.
Jackson also reiterated Wednesday that he believes it would be best for Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause and resume his career with another team. He also said Anthony has expressed to the club that he'd like to remain in New York.
"Here's a guy that's really special, a Hall of Fame player who's done a lot for our organization and we value him highly,'' Jackson said. "This is something that is on the long-term kind of situational thing. We've expressed the fact that we've done a lot of things to put teams together that can win, and we haven't been successful, and it might be time for him to try to go somewhere else.
"[Anthony has] come back and said he'd just as soon stay. We're trying to start growing from the youth aspect of it. There will be conversations after the draft and after free agency when teams start reorganizing their rosters."
The Knicks talked to several teams about trading Anthony prior to the February deadline and remain set on dealing him this offseason.
Jackson also said Wednesday that he has spoken to Porzingis -- though not by phone.
"I've reached out. We've communicated. Not through voice or anything, although I've tried to call," Jackson said. "Yeah, and they say no worries. He's working hard. There's plenty of pictures on the internet about him working hard and working at it. So, yeah, we'll get it back."
A June 19 story incorrectly stated, via sources, there had been no contact between Porzingis and the Knicks since Porzingis skipped his April exit meeting. Team sources now say there has been minimal contact between members of the organization and Porzingis.
Source: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19702307/phil-jackson-confirms-new-york-knicks-fielding-calls-kristaps-porzingis-do-best-team
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