New York Knicks: Should Kristaps Porzingis sit to ensure high draft pick?

In a video conference call, NBA on TNT’s Charles Barkley said the New York Knicks should sit Kristaps Porzingis in hope of a better draft pick.

The season opener went by without Kristaps Porzingis, who the New York Knicks won’t have for an indefinite period, if at all, in the 2018-19 season. There’s little question as to him as their best player, given the top-end production shown in 48 games in 2017-18.

If Porzingis returns this year, it’s obviously unknown how he’ll perform on a surgically repaired knee and after almost one year away—pending when he would come back.

A midseason return might already see the Knicks out of the playoff mix, which limits the Latvian forward’s end-game impact for 2018-19. A bottom-of-the-conference record also puts them in position for a high draft pick; something Charles Barkley of Inside the NBA said is too much to risk in this rebuild with a healthy Porzingis:

Porzingis is an upgrade on paper and on the court, even with the injury. Theoretically, he would boost New York’s record, which also means lower lottery odds.

There’s reason to keep the 23-year-old off the court from the team and player perspective, however.

If it’s too late into the season when Porzingis reaches full health—maybe February 2019—the Knicks can ensure he sits for the final two months and takes the offseason to get into game shape.

As Barkley said, it also preserves a potentially high spot in the lottery. The question is by how much, though, whenever Porzingis receives clearance to play, and where New York sits in the standings.

Without an extension for Porzingis—which the organization will wait until July 2019 for—why risk a reaggravation and millions of dollars with a return to a team that’s not in the playoff hunt? It preserves his body for the inevitable summer payday of five years, $155 million.

Of course if Porzingis can return with at least 41 games remaining, it may change everything. It’s early enough for the Knicks to make a run at the playoffs, not worry about a lottery spot and ease their star into action months earlier than October 2019. That’s also a positive step forward in head coach David Fizdale’s first season.

It’s not a simple process to bring the face of the franchise back and worry about the future. The Knicks don’t have to make this decision yet, but if the reported Christmas timetable is still on the table, it’s not too far away.