The New York Knicks sent shockwaves throughout the NBA when they traded Kristaps Porzingis. Doc Rivers, for one, liked the move.
General manager Scott Perry and team president Steve Mills took a major risk when they traded Kristaps Porzingis. It was an unexpected move that forced the rest of the NBA to take notice of the New York Knicks.
“I think they know what they’re doing,” Doc Rivers said per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “Who knows why, but I have a feeling they know what they’re doing. Porzingis said he didn’t want to be there. I get that. If you want to be with the team, great. If you don’t … I thought Steve [Mills] and Scott [Perry] handled it very well.”
When Doc Rivers speaks, people usually stop to listen. He’s a championship-winning coach and he understands what it takes to build a championship roster.
Knicks fans should feel confident knowing Rivers agrees with the team’s decision to trade KP. That being said, no one really knows how this trade will shake out for the Knicks. They acquired assets in the form of draft picks while simultaneously clearing cap space for the pivotal summer of 2019. Not to mention, the Knicks acquired an exciting young point guard—Dennis Smith Jr.
There is a lot to like for Knicks fans, but it’s still far too early to assess the trade. How Porzingis’ health holds up, how 2019 free agency shakes out, and what the Knicks do with their draft picks are all questions that must be answered.
Rivers isn’t wrong in his assessment of the Knicks and the trade, but it’s still too early to know exactly how the Porzingis trade will be viewed.
