For sure, it's very much in the realm of possibility. This is why teams don't trade unprotected picks anymore, and also why every Kings loss makes a big difference.
Did we acquire the Kings pick before or after the odds changed? And the Kings pick isn't "unprotected." At least not when the Celtics acquired it.
The loss in Cleveland last night gives them an advantage even with the B2B as they came out focused and determined from the get go without ever taking their foot off the pedal with the exception of a 3-minute stretch when the Wiz tried getting away with using a 5-man bench unit in the 3rd which they quickly corrected. The Pacers are a lottery level team without Oladipo......one of the top three seeds are going to have a quick and easy series in the first round.
Sounds like Zinger wants out...
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @wojespn
Reporting with @ZachLowe and @RamonaShelburne: In meeting with management today, Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis expressed his concern with the losing, franchise direction and an uncertainty that a culture is developing that will enable sustainable organizational success.
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @wojespn
Reporting with @ZachLowe and @RamonaShelburne: In meeting with management today, Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis expressed his concern with the losing, franchise direction and an uncertainty that a culture is developing that will enable sustainable organizational success.
I think this the most sustainable the Knicks have looked in a long time. They'll get Kristaps back, look like they have something in Knox, will land a top pick in the draft, and have cap space for the summer. By the standards of Knicks fans; this is a time for great optimism.
He's done this before back when Phil Jackson was GM. There were talks of the Celtics trading for him but we went with Kyrie.
Wow. Okay, here are the Knicks salaries before you hit the trade machine: https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/NYK.html
Only signed for one more year and didn't meet the criteria for starter pay. He's getting 4.4 mil next year.
He'd be very hard to trade for anyway given his salary.
He'd be very hard to trade for anyway given his salary.
If Porzingis was completely healthy right now that package would be a complete overpay. The injury question is the only reason it seems reasonable, IMO
Also, what does Durant want? If Durant wants to go to the Knicks, would he rather play with AD or Zinger and a lottery shot at Zion? This summer is going to be crazy.
AD, stars don't want to play with guys who are probably gonna need 2-3 years to figure it out, hence why LeBron teams have constantly moved picks and young guys for vets
Very true. I do think Zion will be an exception to this rule.
We'll also see who is interested in team stacking and who wants to do it on their own.
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine 29s29 seconds ago
The Mavericks have agreed to take on the contracts of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee to faciliate a Porzingis trade and are working to complete the transaction today, league sources say
The Mavericks have agreed to take on the contracts of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee to faciliate a Porzingis trade and are working to complete the transaction today, league sources say
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine 1m1 minute ago
The Knicks would receive Dennis Smith Jr. and the expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews in the proposed trade, according to league sources
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine 1m1 minute ago
The Knicks would also receive future first-round draft compensation from the Mavericks and, by shedding the contracts of Hardaway and Lee, create the salary-cap space this summer to pursue two maximum contract free agents
The Knicks would receive Dennis Smith Jr. and the expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews in the proposed trade, according to league sources
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine 1m1 minute ago
The Knicks would also receive future first-round draft compensation from the Mavericks and, by shedding the contracts of Hardaway and Lee, create the salary-cap space this summer to pursue two maximum contract free agents
They shouldn’t trade KP but if they attached him to Hardaway’s contract they could probably get back a really interesting piece.
EDIT: Looks like NY and Dallas had the same idea.
Doncic and Porzingis... man if he's healthy that's something. DSJ is a decent piece too if you consider it's a gamble and aren't bullish on Porzingis returning to form.
You have to consider that Zion (or a Top 3 pick) is also an attractive trade asset. Having Zion can attract Durant, just like how Wiggins attracted LeBron back to Cleveland; Zion probably has a higher trade value than all but 10 or so players in the league.
Whoops.
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @wojespn 5m5 minutes ago
New York is finalizing a deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, league sources tell ESPN.
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @wojespn 5m5 minutes ago
New York is finalizing a deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, league sources tell ESPN.
Props to the Mavs for being aggressive. A healthy Zinger + Luka is a great combo.
Shams CharaniaVerified account @ShamsCharania 8m8 minutes ago
New York and Dallas are in deep discussions on a trade that would send Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks and Dennis Smith Jr. to the Knicks, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium.
Shams CharaniaVerified account @ShamsCharania 8m8 minutes ago
New York and Dallas are in deep discussions on a trade that would send Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks and Dennis Smith Jr. to the Knicks, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium.
The good news is the Knicks can afford 2 max guys this summer. The bad news is they're the Knicks and they always blow it.
And Twitter is enjoying this...
Joel ShermanVerified account @Joelsherman1 5m5 minutes ago
#Knicks trade Porzingis plus Hardaway Jr./Lee to clear way to sign 2 free agents. That can only mean 1 thing -- the Knicks are the mystery team signing Harper and Machado.
And Twitter is enjoying this...
Joel ShermanVerified account @Joelsherman1 5m5 minutes ago
#Knicks trade Porzingis plus Hardaway Jr./Lee to clear way to sign 2 free agents. That can only mean 1 thing -- the Knicks are the mystery team signing Harper and Machado.
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania 27s27 seconds ago
Sources: New York and Dallas have agreed in principle on a trade sending package around Kristaps Porzingis for Dennis Smith Jr. Wes Matthews, other contracts, and picks going to New York, and Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke among players going to Dallas. Sides finishing final terms.
Sources: New York and Dallas have agreed in principle on a trade sending package around Kristaps Porzingis for Dennis Smith Jr. Wes Matthews, other contracts, and picks going to New York, and Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke among players going to Dallas. Sides finishing final terms.
Any chance Wes Matthews and Jordan get released/bought out? The former would be a nice fit on the Celtics.
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42 16s16 seconds ago
I would circle DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews as two potential buyout players to keep an eye on. Players need to be waived by March 1 to become playoff eligible.
I would circle DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews as two potential buyout players to keep an eye on. Players need to be waived by March 1 to become playoff eligible.
I’m not really a big Porzingis guy, especially now that he has a knee surgery to his name, bus this is quite the shot to take.
Great minds...
Nate SilverVerified account @NateSilver538 13s13 seconds ago
It's gonna turn into fucking Goran Dragic and Khris Middleton or something.
The Knicks are so fucking stupid. I kind of understand being unsure about Porzingis coming off the injury; but my god, trading the most exciting young player the Knicks have had since Patrick Ewing so they can have a better shot at landing Durant; when a million different things can change between now and when Durant hits free agency; and if he opts to go anywhere else they are dead in the water. I would just hate, hate to be a fan of this team. They play miserable basketball for years with an unlikable, selfish star player and the one saving grace is that Knick fans have been able to talk themselves into this Latvian kid being their savior, and now that optimism is toast and replaced with a prayer Durant will sign with their miserable franchise, even though a star FA hasn't signed with NY in over a decade.
I don't know if this is sarcasm, but I'm sure the Knicks would gladly get rid of DSJ if it means Kyrie. There would be plenty of takers.
Why are you acting like this was all the Knicks making a decision by themselves? It sounds like Porzingis (who seems to have quite the ego for not having accomplished a whole lot) wanted out, and he's an RFA this summer. He still hasn't come close to proving that he can stay healthy for a full season, and they dumped some awful contracts. I kind of like it, actually.
It's a really good deal for the Knicks. They get rid of Hardaway's bad contract, get rid of a supposed malcontent in Porzingis, and opened up 2 max slots for FA.
They will still need a 3rd guy in addition to the hypothetical FA signings if they want to actually win and not just put a competent team on the floor for once. They have some pieces to trade for one, if they are able to match/absorb salary on draft night without jeopardizing the two max slots they created. But it’s a tight dance with a lot of other strong suitors out there for the players they will be targeting.
Full deal:
Shams CharaniaVerified account @ShamsCharania
Sources: Full players involved in Knicks/Mavericks deal: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, Trey Burke to Dallas. Dennis Smith Jr., Wes Matthews, DeAndre Jordan and likely first-round draft pick compensation to New York.
Shams CharaniaVerified account @ShamsCharania
Sources: Full players involved in Knicks/Mavericks deal: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, Trey Burke to Dallas. Dennis Smith Jr., Wes Matthews, DeAndre Jordan and likely first-round draft pick compensation to New York.