Knicks Trade Rumors: Rounding up the Kristaps Porzingis buzz

2. The Meeting With Kristaps Porzingis’ Potential Replacement

The report of a potential trade sent New York Knicks fans into a spiral. That report was strengthened by the news that the the Knicks had met with a 2017 NBA Draft prospect who could replace Porzingis long-term.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, team president Phil Jackson had dinner with projected lottery pick Lauri Markkanen and is considering him at No. 8 overall.

"To that possibility, Jackson had a dinner meeting with Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen on Monday night in New York, league sources told The Vertical. Jackson considers Markkanen, a 7-foot jump-shooting forward, a replacement for Porzingis and is considering selecting him with the team’s No. 8 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft."

Considering the fact that Markkanen plays the same position as Porzingis, the dinner was viewed as a troubling sign for Porzingis’ future in New York.

Markkanen is a 7’0″ power forward with an outstanding 3-point shot and the ability to create off the bounce. In 2016-17, he averaged 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 3-point field goals made on a slash line of .492/.423/.835.

With an outstanding shot and the ability to create in isolation, Markkanen is regarded as a big man with All-NBA potential.

The question is: Would the Knicks be upgrading with Markkanen over Porzingis?

It’s worth noting that trading Porzingis and drafting Markkanen wouldn’t just be a one-for-one swap. New York would be receiving compensation for Porzingis in a trade and then adding Markkanen to that new-look lineup.

That exercise in exploration may be unnecessary, however, as it’s highly unlikely that the Knicks will trade the promising young big man at any point in the near future.