Five observations from The Day The Unicorn Left Town:
1. A lot of sentiment is focused on the Knicks taking a risk with the Kristaps Porzingis blockbuster and putting all their marbles in free agency by opening up enough cap space for two max contracts. But in the Knicks’ eyes, the risk was doing nothing at the trade deadline and calling Porzingis’ bluff.
If the Knicks had waited until July to try to move an unhappy Porzingis in a sign-and-trade, all their leverage would have been lost to the Latvian. He’d get to pick and choose his destination if he outright demanded they not match a team’s contract offer. Their pursuit of Kevin Durant, who essentially plays the same position as Porzingis, also could have been muddied by Porzingis’ free agency. If Porzingis was still unsigned, he would still be on the books. This way the Knicks enter free agency with a cleaner cap. Even if they don’t sign two max free agents, they have the cap room to absorb a player via trade when their two gained future first-round picks could come in handy.
2. While Porzingis had a rough history with president Steve Mills and viewed him as part of a lot of losing in New York, his lack of a commitment to want to be here long-term is also a bad reflection on coach David Fizdale. Not that Porzingis has enjoyed any of his coaches here — starting with Derek Fisher. But it is obvious Porzingis didn’t see a winning culture being developed by Fizdale at 10-40 even with all his charisma.
Who knows if Porzingis is right or wrong? Maybe he entered the Fizdale relationship skeptical since he’s friends with fellow Europeans Marc Gasol and Enes Kanter. But Porzingis apparently didn’t see enough greatness in Fizdale, who has performed a series of flip-flops and didn’t exactly do good by some of the veterans — Kanter included. However, Fizdale did everything he could to repair any past friction Porzingis had with the organization. Porzingis’ Instagram message earlier this season picturing him sprinting did his coach no favors. Porzingis was angrily responding to Fizdale telling the media he’s only doing “light running.”
3. The trade gave the Knicks a representative at the All-Star Game. High-flying guard Dennis Smith Jr. will be chosen for the Slam-Dunk competition, as he was last year as a rookie. Knicks GM Scott Perry is all about adding athletes to the roster and he’s surely got one in Smith. Whether he can handle the complexities that come with point guard is a different matter.
4. Mills said on Thursday night’s conference call he was getting a vibe that Porzingis had lost his enthusiasm as his appearances at practices lessened recently. Porzingis also missed some home games. Fizdale never let on, though we rarely saw Porzingis working on the court with coaches in January as promised. Mills said during his sitdown with Knicks writers in December that Porzingis would start doing basketball drills with coaches in January before being reevaluated in mid-February. That apparently wasn’t happening nearly enough. It all goes back to Porzingis wanting to do his own thing, including doing his entire offseason rehab at Real Madrid instead of the Knicks’ spot at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Fizdale pumped up Porzingis to the end — whether his observations were truthful or not.
“He worked out with coach Kaleb (Canales) a little bit (Monday) night, which was great,’’ Fizdale said last week. “He’s been around, engaged with us, still participating, fighting for us, texting. Everything. Because he knows he can help us and he knows his talent level can really help this group as we face some of these teams.”
5. The Knicks don’t think they traded Wilt Chamberlain but they probably moved a perennial All-Star in Porzingis if he is able to stay healthy, which was former team president Phil Jackson’s primary worry. After Porzingis’ MVP-like November of last season, he tailed off. In December and January of last season, teams made adjustments and played more physical with him and he took — and missed — a lot of off-balance jumpers. Coming off ACL surgery, Porzingis has to establish a stronger lower core in Dallas so he can become more of a low-post threat and defensive rebounder. His shotblocking showed improvement, but for a 7-3 player, his career rebounding average (7.1) could be better.