UPDATE: Well, that was fun while it lasted — go about your regularly scheduled day.
New York and Dallas are in deep discussions on a trade that would send Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks and Dennis Smith Jr. to the Knicks, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 31, 2019
Good afternoon!
This past week has been dominated by Anthony Davis-related headlines, but not to be outdone in the world of ever-cascading drama, those tanking New York Knicks threw their hat into the ring. An innocuous article from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first suggested that Kristaps Prozingis — the Knicks’ unicorn and centerpiece — was worried about the franchise’s direction, potentially looking for a way out of town sooner rather than later.
ESPN story on Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks. https://t.co/qoEHgeyICY
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
That was quickly followed up with more planet-moving news:
Kristaps Porzingis left the Knicks with the impression that he prefers to be traded, league sources tell @ramonashelburne and me. Knicks are expected to commence discussions on moving him ahead of next Thursday's deadline.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
And, for many onlookers, that was quite enough — but, of course, the pièce de résistance was not far behind:
The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are among many teams expected to pursue Kristaps Porzingis in a trade, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019
The Nets have long, long searched for a stretch four worthy of leading their three-point-heavy charge — Porzingis, if healthy, certainly fits the bill. As of now, that’s the grandest issue at hand. Porzinigis has been recovering from an ACL injury for nearly a year now, all ahead of the darling unicorn’s foray into unrestricted free agency this summer. The Knicks have bristled about automatically handing over a max contract for a big man coming off such a serious injury, especially without seeing him play; while Porzingis appears frustrated over a number of other things.
General manager Sean Marks has always done his due diligence on situations like this, so it’s no surprise to see the Nets’ name in Wojnarowski’s tweet. Yet, Marks will be wary to part with any combination of Caris LeVert, D’Angelo Russell, Jarrett Allen, and the freshly-replenished draft picks to only ensure those desired offer sheet-matching powers. That’s the biggest question at hand now, among many: How serious are the Knicks about dealing Porzingis before next week’s deadline? What would Marks be willing to give up? Would it just be better to wait until the summertime and take their chances on being matched?
For the first time this season, the Nets are involved in a big-time rumor… so bust out those phones and put the high-profile scoopers on mobile notifications because this baby is just heating up.
(This year, the news aggregation at The Brooklyn Game hasn’t exactly been our strong suit — our bad. Still, for news this big, both on the Nets and their rivals fronts, busting out the old news post wasn’t an option, it was a necessity.).
(Apologies for the old photo — hi, Thaddeus — but it’ll do.)
