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Knicks Trade Rumors: Old Kristaps Porzingis offers had greater returns

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks looks on during their Open Practice on September 29, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks looks on during their Open Practice on September 29, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks had two intriguing offers in place for Kristaps Porzingis, but well before the torn ACL, according to the New York Post.

Kristaps Porzingis‘ run with the New York Knicks ended swiftly before the trade deadline. Along with Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke and Courtney Lee, he went to the Dallas Mavericks for Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two first-round picks.

This closed a situation in New York that went steadily went south in fewer than two years, starting with the skipped exit interview after the 2016-17 season.

Then-team president, Phil Jackson, opened trade talks for the Latvian big man in June 2017. Nothing happened, however, and he was fired shortly after, in the days following the 2017 NBA Draft.

Per Marc Berman of the New York Post, Jackson received two intriguing offers for Porzingis: a handful of assets from the Boston Celtics and Devin Booker and a first-round pick that would have netted Lauri Markkanen from the Phoenix Suns, who selected fourth in the 2017 draft.

"“Teams weren’t knocking their doors down,’’ one individual with knowledge of the matter told The Post regarding Porzingis’ trade value. “They got some interest, but not like that [Phoenix, Boston offer].”"

The Phoenix offer would have given the Knicks two franchise cornerstones to work around. Boston still had Brooklyn’s first-round picks in 2017 and 2018 from the egregious Kevin Garnett–Paul Pierce trade in 2013 and the inexperienced Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier. Those draft choices could have resulted in Jayson Tatum (or Markelle Fultz and spiral downward) and Collin Sexton.

As Berman noted, Porzingis did not have the same value 20 months later. Whether due to injury or his stance on free agency, taking this volatile player offered risk for anyone. The New Orleans Pelicans even declined him in Anthony Davis trade talks.

While the Jan. 31 Porzingis transaction may not have returned Booker or a top-five pick, it secured New York’s spot in free agency by leaving them a projected $70 million in cap space. Smith Jr. was a fine haul, as well, as the potential answer at point guard, and two picks add to their asset pool.

Next. Winners and losers from trade deadline. dark

How the Knicks follow up on this deal will determine it’s success. They need home runs in free agency and not throwing money around just because. The draft picks give them a rare advantage in trade talks, as well, which could bring the next star to MSG. If not, it’s another young player.

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