like Nix Heading into the offseason, many are speculating who might be looking to upgrade their roster. Among the many calls for specific deals and signings, one unexpected name has emerged as a potential target for some fandom: Christaps Porzingis.
Handling eye movement or sneer can be understood, given the profile. New York replaced Porcingis, who had internal issues with the team, while he rehabilitated a torn ACL, and has since fallen short of All-Star expectations and been constantly hurt.
However, he has matured and expressed his regrets about the end of his Knicks career, not to mention his record-breaking 65 games this season. Is reunion with a 27-year-old totally crazy?
For running back, Porzingis averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.9 steals per game on shooting 55.9% from two and 38.5% from downtown. He has a player option for the 2023-24 season worth $36 million or could become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Why would the Knicks be interested? For starters, this is an impressive line and solid production from Porzingis, which fits the bill for a few things they’d like to improve.
The takeaway from this qualifying round is that New York needs more attacking dynamism, more shooting and more talent. Porzingis happens to supply all three.
Too often during that Heat series, the Knicks struggled with lack of yardage, as Miami weighed down on the paint and ball handlers. Mitchell Robinson Not a short-range threat, often getting the ball stuck above the foul line, and when combined with someone other than the shooter, leaves no room for Julius Randel And Galen Bronson for cooking.
Porzingis is a dependable three-point shooter, with a career average of 36 percent and the ability to get them a step or two behind the arc, dragging the opposing big guys with him. He is far more adept than the current Knicks five-on-three at playing 4v3 outside midrange, and has the finishing touch or ability to make the right pass.
Teams will wing him or switch picks if he takes advantage of several easy options, but Porzingis has shown the ability to punish youngsters one-on-one, even if he can’t get them all under the rim. Who misses, he’s tall enough to contribute to New York’s patented offensive rebound, though he doesn’t collect as many of their current centers.
Defensively, Porzingis isn’t nearly as punchy man as Robinson or even Isaiah Hartenstein He is. However, he does make the effort, and enough strong defenders will surround him to avoid being a hindrance.
This does not mean that he will replace Robinson as the five in the lineup. What he will do is allow Tom Thibodeau For a more attacking-focused look, see him in the center for about 20 minutes a game, then slide down and take Obi Tobin Back up for four minutes to get 30.
This gives Knicks plenty of optionalness without messing up their rotation too much, and the ability to come to the rescue if that twist doesn’t work as well as hoped. It shouldn’t be hard to get either.
New york can offload some dead paychecks like Evan Fournier, Toppin’ package and possibly a pick to secure the former Knick. If he opts for free agency, it will be a little more difficult and you’ll have to deal with Fournier away anyway, but it shouldn’t be impossible if Porzingis is open to a reasonable deal.
New York has limited paths to compete and you’ll need to fill the rotation with smart upgrades that meet the basic needs. It’s easy to write off Porzingis because of his history and injury issues, but from an objective standpoint, he should be someone the Knicks consider.