New York Knicks News Mix, 8/12/17: Kristaps Porzingis' Option Picked Up
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks heads for the net as Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons defends at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2017 in New York City. 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 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks have picked up their team option for the 2018-19 season on star forward Kristaps Porzingis.

Any day now New York Knicks fans are expecting to get the news of a Carmelo Anthony trade. Friday marked one more day in the books with Anthony on New York’s payroll. The news involved Anthony’s loyal friend Kristaps Porzingis, and it was far less shocking.

According to Real GM, the Knicks exercised the fourth-year option on the unicorn’s rookie contract. No surprise there. Now that Phil Jackson isn’t around to trade Porzingis for Lonzo Ball, it was only a matter of time until the team picked up the option for the 2018-19 season.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports the financial details of the contract: $5.69M cap hit for the 4th year (2018-19); $1.7M (30% increase) based on the new CBA.

The unicorn is benefiting from being on a rookie contract in this new CBA with all the cash flowing in. Hopefully, this is a good start towards rebuilding a fractured relationship with the Knicks and Porzingis.

The new regime, led by Steve Mills and Scott Perry, appears to be committed to a youth movement and Porzingis will hopefully be featured for years to come along with Frank Ntilikina and Tim Hardaway Jr.