New York Knicks: How healthy is Kristaps Porzingis’ knee?
After New York Knicks head coach updated Kristaps Porzingis’ injury recovery, the team’s superstar posted a video that seemed to reverse doubt.
On Thursday, New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale told Chris Iseman of NorthJersey.com, Kristaps Porzingis was not able to sprint at this point in his recovery from a torn ACL. He suffered the injury in February 2018.
Porzingis has not reached the stage of traveling with the Knicks on the road, either. Fizdale said they chose to keep him home until further notice.
"“Travel is tough with rehabbing it. So right now we’ve all come to the agreement, on a lot of these trips we’re just keeping him home. He’s going to come on some. He’s got a good rhythm going.”"
Despite these comments, could Porzingis be further along in his rehabilitation than expected? On Instagram, he posted screenshots of himself apparently sprinting.
Does that mean anything towards the 23-year-old’s recovery? Maybe not. The coaching staff doesn’t plan on him returning, for now, focusing on the healthy players instead, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley.
The last update Porzingis gave, he alluded to potentially not playing at all in 2018-19. That was seven months into his recovery in September, when the Knicks had their Media Day.
In the midst of this, New York did not sign Porzingis to an extension before the October deadline. They could have given him a maximum contract for five years but opted to wait for the 2019 offseason, when the one-time All-Star will become a restricted free agent. A deal can go up to five years, $153 million.
The organization has yet to provide a timetable for Porzingis’ return, whether it’s this season or 2019-20. Marc Berman of The New York Post previously reported a potential comeback around Christmas for the “Unicorn,” when the Knicks play the Milwaukee Bucks.
Without Porzingis in 2018-19, the Knicks are 4-8. Tim Hardaway Jr. has taken over as their leading scorer since with 24.3 points on 19.0 shot attempts, after 17.5 points on 15.0 tries in 2017-18.
If the Knicks don’t have Porzingis back until October 2019, the roster could have an almost complete redesign. They have over $30 million in cap space in July which may go towards a maximum-salary free agent. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson are among the likely names to hit the open market.
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In the meantime, it’s a waiting game for Porzingis’ return. It could happen before 2018-19 ends or fans may have to remain patient for another 11 months.