New York Knicks: Realistic goals for Kristaps Porzingis in 2018-19
1. Do not rush back
New York Knicks fans might want Kristaps Porzingis on the court as soon as possible. The same for the organization. However, with the severity of a torn ACL, especially for a mobile big man, he must not rush to return.
A comeback too soon can aggravate the injury, as seen with players in the NBA, NFL and other professional sports leagues. Sometimes, this recreates the original injury and puts the player on the shelf for a longer period of time.
For the Knicks, with low-to-no playoff expectations, there’s no reason to rush Porzingis back for a potentially meaningless run. Let him take as much time as needed, even if it means missing most of the 2018-19 season, to prep for the 2019-20 campaign.
Plus, Porzingis is still just 23 years old; he’s the face of the franchise and someone New York will rely on for years to come. If it means sacrificing some of his use now for a long-term run later, it’s worth it, with health preservation as the focus.
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By 2019-20, the Knicks can have a group that includes a healthy Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox, a 2019 lottery pick and one of the superstar free agents from July’s pool. It’s worth the wait and something that necessitates patience.