Not only are the New York Knicks not ruling out trading Kristaps Porzingis, but Phil Jackson is reportedly auditioning his replacement.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical is reporting that the New York Knicks, namely team president Phil Jackson, haven’t ruled out the possibility of trading star forward Kristaps Porzingis.
Sources: As teams become aware Phil Jackson isn't ruling out possibility of trading Kristaps Porzingis, frenzy of interest is growing today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2017
It’s gotten so bad that Jackson is even auditioning Porzingis’ replacement, Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen. He’s often been compared to the unicorn.
Per Woj, Jackson had dinner with Markkanen on Monday.
Sources: Phil Jackson met with Lauri Markkanen in New York on Monday, a player whom he's considering at No. 8 should Knicks move Porzingis. https://t.co/44d8EqMoBm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2017
Ian Begley of ESPN New York subsequently reported that no one from the Knicks organization has been in touch with Porzingis since he skipped the exit meetings.
No one from the Knicks organization has been in touch with Kristaps Porzingis since he skipped exit meetings, per league sources.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 20, 2017
A terrible sign, but not surprising either. Head coach Jeff Hornacek said at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago that he hadn’t spoken with his star big man. We know Jackson likely hadn’t even bothered to try.
Per Begley, KP’s brother reiterated how much Kristaps loves New York and wants to win in the Big Apple.
This is just another sign that Jackson is running the team with petty grievances in mind. If he actually trades Kristaps Porzingis he’ll never recover. Even his biggest brainwashed supporters will never forgive him.
Porzingis made the ultimate sin, however. He defied Jackson and the triangle when he skipped that exit meeting. Maybe this is just to get Porzingis in line. We’ll see.