Knicks · Begley Article: Porzingis' skipped meeting led multiple teams to call Knicks (page 1)

Kristaps Porzingis' skipped meeting led multiple teams to call Knicks
7:49 PM ET
Ian Begley
ESPN Staff Writer

Several teams reached out to the New York Knicks to talk about possible trades for Kristaps Porzingis in the days after he skipped his exit meeting with Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills, league sources told ESPN.

It is unclear if the discussions led to any substantial trade parameters. Teams were inquiring about trading for Porzingis, 21, after he showed his frustration with the direction of the franchise by skipping the meeting.

It would probably take a significant return for the Knicks to consider trading Porzingis, who is entering the third season of his four-year rookie contract.

A versatile 7-3 forward/center, Porzingis is viewed by many in the organization as a future franchise cornerstone.

Kristaps Porzingis has been frustrated with the drama surrounding the Knicks this season, team sources said, but he has said several times that he wants to remain in New York. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
But he had been frustrated by the drama and dysfunction surrounding the team this season, according to team sources. He has said several times that he wants to remain in New York, but with an important caveat: His top priority is to win.

The Knicks have lost a total of 101 games in Porzingis' first two seasons in the NBA.

Porzingis hasn't spoken with the Knicks since skipping the exit meeting. He left for his home country of Latvia late last month and plans to play for the Latvian national team in the European Championships this offseason.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19319...

Just to reiterate.... Fuck Begley.

Slow week. He drops this now just to keep himself relevant. You mean to tell me he just got this information which is actually more speculative than anything. Its also something we already discussed when it happened. So anyway fuck this guy and the ever irrelevant espn. Get off our dick you piece of doo

Can't see us trade KP
But he deserves his "off the table" label aka untouchable status revoked after the lack of professionalism he showed

I'm one of his big fans and I get accused of being Latvian lol but Knicks should push back and show KP he cannot do that stuff. Being open to trade talks should put KP in his place a little and not let him think he can do whatever he wants

I mean if they actually traded him I'd be pissed but this is not a problem for me. Skipping an exit meeting was extremely uncool considering management has always had KPs back. KP seems to have forgiven all those lame fans that booed him or questioned him on draft day but not recalling that Phil, Knicks are the franchise that gave him a chance and have brought him along slowly and well in a manner he is extremely protected. Was very uncool of KP to show that disrespect to the same guys who drafted him and took a chance on him.

I have heard that KP was going to keep the fact that he skipped his exit meeting in house until Phil came out and trashed Melo at the presser.

And commit to win. Knicks'd better not to tank this time.

EnySpree wrote:Just to reiterate.... Fuck Begley.

Slow week. He drops this now just to keep himself relevant. You mean to tell me he just got this information which is actually more speculative than anything. Its also something we already discussed when it happened. So anyway fuck this guy and the ever irrelevant espn. Get off our dick you piece of doo

You hate everything someone writes about the knicks unless it involves trades for melo..If bagley ripped melo and praise Phil, you would have your pom poms out. You need to stop being so bias, I would not be surprise if KP is traded in a package deal. Kp is good and i would love to have him around, but he certainly isn't untouchable, were not winning with anyone on this roster, no one has made a difference, so like phil said, anyone can be traded for the right deal if it made sense

I wonder what was offered?

knicks1248 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:Just to reiterate.... Fuck Begley.

Slow week. He drops this now just to keep himself relevant. You mean to tell me he just got this information which is actually more speculative than anything. Its also something we already discussed when it happened. So anyway fuck this guy and the ever irrelevant espn. Get off our dick you piece of doo

You hate everything someone writes about the knicks unless it involves trades for melo..If bagley ripped melo and praise Phil, you would have your pom poms out. You need to stop being so bias, I would not be surprise if KP is traded in a package deal. Kp is good and i would love to have him around, but he certainly isn't untouchable, were not winning with anyone on this roster, no one has made a difference, so like phil said, anyone can be traded for the right deal if it made sense

stfu dude. I'm not bias in any way. I just don't like these douche bag writers that have every intention to bash the Knicks and exaggerate the truth. I actually don't give a shit about any article. We mention trades here for years and we come up with better ideas then any of these tabloid writers. Begley well never bash Melo because that doesn't get clicks. Bashing Phil and the triangle every chance they get gets them clicks. That's why this "report" comes out. Its been a while, outs time to beat that dead horse again. Let's insinuate that Phil wants to trade KP because of the triangle. Fucking corny shit. I'm sure something else will comne out right before the lottery.

EnySpree wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:Just to reiterate.... Fuck Begley.

Slow week. He drops this now just to keep himself relevant. You mean to tell me he just got this information which is actually more speculative than anything. Its also something we already discussed when it happened. So anyway fuck this guy and the ever irrelevant espn. Get off our dick you piece of doo

You hate everything someone writes about the knicks unless it involves trades for melo..If bagley ripped melo and praise Phil, you would have your pom poms out. You need to stop being so bias, I would not be surprise if KP is traded in a package deal. Kp is good and i would love to have him around, but he certainly isn't untouchable, were not winning with anyone on this roster, no one has made a difference, so like phil said, anyone can be traded for the right deal if it made sense

stfu dude. I'm not bias in any way. I just don't like these douche bag writers that have every intention to bash the Knicks and exaggerate the truth. I actually don't give a shit about any article. We mention trades here for years and we come up with better ideas then any of these tabloid writers. Begley well never bash Melo because that doesn't get clicks. Bashing Phil and the triangle every chance they get gets them clicks. That's why this "report" comes out. Its been a while, outs time to beat that dead horse again. Let's insinuate that Phil wants to trade KP because of the triangle. Fucking corny shit. I'm sure something else will comne out right before the lottery.

I have been on these boards for years, and I have never seen anyone come remotely close to coming up with a trade that actually happen..NOT FCKNG ONE. No one on these forums have any inside information other than what they read or saw on TV. Everything you type should start with "I WOULD HOPE", because you or I control any part of process, not even a vote...

There isn't a player on this roster did you predict would be here. You think KP can't be traded or walk in a couple years, If you think there's no reality to that, you definitely just dropped in from MARS..Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, Larry Johnson, Alonzo, Shaq,, aldridge, Harden, KD, Labron, the list is endless..

If you are NOT winning in NY, you are done, you will not LAST..(SEE FCKNG CARMELO)

Didn't you say FCK ESPN when the predicted the knicks to win 37 games..REALITY IS BItch ain't it

knicks1248 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

EnySpree wrote:Just to reiterate.... Fuck Begley.

Slow week. He drops this now just to keep himself relevant. You mean to tell me he just got this information which is actually more speculative than anything. Its also something we already discussed when it happened. So anyway fuck this guy and the ever irrelevant espn. Get off our dick you piece of doo

You hate everything someone writes about the knicks unless it involves trades for melo..If bagley ripped melo and praise Phil, you would have your pom poms out. You need to stop being so bias, I would not be surprise if KP is traded in a package deal. Kp is good and i would love to have him around, but he certainly isn't untouchable, were not winning with anyone on this roster, no one has made a difference, so like phil said, anyone can be traded for the right deal if it made sense

stfu dude. I'm not bias in any way. I just don't like these douche bag writers that have every intention to bash the Knicks and exaggerate the truth. I actually don't give a shit about any article. We mention trades here for years and we come up with better ideas then any of these tabloid writers. Begley well never bash Melo because that doesn't get clicks. Bashing Phil and the triangle every chance they get gets them clicks. That's why this "report" comes out. Its been a while, outs time to beat that dead horse again. Let's insinuate that Phil wants to trade KP because of the triangle. Fucking corny shit. I'm sure something else will comne out right before the lottery.

I have been on these boards for years, and I have never seen anyone come remotely close to coming up with a trade that actually happen..NOT FCKNG ONE. No one on these forums have any inside information other than what they read or saw on TV. Everything you type should start with "I WOULD HOPE", because you or I control any part of process, not even a vote...

There isn't a player on this roster did you predict would be here. You think KP can't be traded or walk in a couple years, If you think there's no reality to that, you definitely just dropped in from MARS..Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, Larry Johnson, Alonzo, Shaq,, aldridge, Harden, KD, Labron, the list is endless..

If you are NOT winning in NY, you are done, you will not LAST..(SEE FCKNG CARMELO)

Didn't you say FCK ESPN when the predicted the knicks to win 37 games..REALITY IS BItch ain't it

What trade or player did these Knicks beat writers predict? They haven't had anything right in 4 years. Like get out of here with that.

i hope they wont trade KP, or if they do than to Nets please, i love NY, it is cheapest flight tickets to fly from europe to NBA watch games :)

There is a rumor in Latvia that he skipped exit meeting because of his big brother(manager) Janis conflict with Knicks and has nothing to do with Melo or KP frustration

I'm a big fan of KP

Also big time disappointed in KP

He either shapes up and apologizes or we trade him. He should have been at the meeting and he should keep his trap shut

Gudris wrote:i hope they wont trade KP, or if they do than to Nets please, i love NY, it is cheapest flight tickets to fly from europe to NBA watch games :)

There is a rumor in Latvia that he skipped exit meeting because of his big brother(manager) Janis conflict with Knicks and has nothing to do with Melo or KP frustration

Wow. Thanks for posting this. The rumor here is that KP was going to keep things in house about skipping the meeting but it was leaked that he skipped after Phil's press conference because Phil blamed Melo for the Knicks troubles. I wonder if both rumors are true.

Gudris wrote:i hope they wont trade KP, or if they do than to Nets please, i love NY, it is cheapest flight tickets to fly from europe to NBA watch games :)

There is a rumor in Latvia that he skipped exit meeting because of his big brother(manager) Janis conflict with Knicks and has nothing to do with Melo or KP frustration

Any info about what the conflict is?

Chandler wrote:I'm a big fan of KP

Also big time disappointed in KP

He either shapes up and apologizes or we trade him. He should have been at the meeting and he should keep his trap shut

I don't think you trade a 21 year old unicorn because he is upset with Phil/Rambis. KP actually came out in support of the triangle this year. Also, KP is 21, Phil will be 72 before the start of next season and has 2 years left on his deal. Phil's run in ny ends when KP is just 23. My guess s Rambis's run ends then as well. Phil already only travels when the Knicks play the Lakers and he doesn't do any off site scouting. I don't see the triangle or Phil's methods lasting beyond Phil. KP will have another 10-15 years of really good basketball left if he stays healthy. You can't trade that and I would not want Phil to be the guy that did that trade.

Nalod wrote:

Gudris wrote:i hope they wont trade KP, or if they do than to Nets please, i love NY, it is cheapest flight tickets to fly from europe to NBA watch games :)

There is a rumor in Latvia that he skipped exit meeting because of his big brother(manager) Janis conflict with Knicks and has nothing to do with Melo or KP frustration

Any info about what the conflict is?

No its just a rumor, sadly i dont know any person that is close to KP or his family

CrushAlot wrote:

Chandler wrote:I'm a big fan of KP

Also big time disappointed in KP

He either shapes up and apologizes or we trade him. He should have been at the meeting and he should keep his trap shut

I don't think you trade a 21 year old unicorn because he is upset with Phil/Rambis. KP actually came out in support of the triangle this year. Also, KP is 21, Phil will be 72 before the start of next season and has 2 years left on his deal. Phil's run in ny ends when KP is just 23. My guess s Rambis's run ends then as well. Phil already only travels when the Knicks play the Lakers and he doesn't do any off site scouting. I don't see the triangle or Phil's methods lasting beyond Phil. KP will have another 10-15 years of really good basketball left if he stays healthy. You can't trade that and I would not want Phil to be the guy that did that trade.

I'll chalk it up to being 21. And frankly he has every right to be upset

But after he has time to calm down he needs to realize how wrong that was

It adds to the dysfunction. He needs to lead by example.

I think we should try to trade him for the highest bid we can get. I think we should blow it all up, get as many young assets and picks as possible, and then start a rebuild. Yes Porzingis is a huge asset, but he is unhappy and has been a part of this disfunctional team we have had this season and he has chosen to side with Melo who I think will leave. I don't think it's a possibility to build around Porzingis as it all stands at the moment.
For many reasons I think we can get a good price for him if we trade him to Boston. If they win the lottery this years 1st is out of the question, but if they finish as 2 or 3 they might be interested in trading the pick and Crowder + multiple lower picks for Porzingis. I also think we can get two 1st round picks for him instead of the Nets' picks if we would prefer that.
Porzingis would fit in perfect in Boston, Melo would fit perfect in Clippers, and Knicks really need to get great role players, young talents to build around and a good atmosphere in the locker room.
I believe in the future, but we need to rebuild and it might be a long rebuild. We haven't got a chance against Lebron or a Golden State with Curry and Durant, and for me the only thing that matters is a new banner or at least a place in the Conference Finals.

nyknickzingis wrote:Can't see us trade KP
But he deserves his "off the table" label aka untouchable status revoked after the lack of professionalism he showed

I'm one of his big fans and I get accused of being Latvian lol but Knicks should push back and show KP he cannot do that stuff. Being open to trade talks should put KP in his place a little and not let him think he can do whatever he wants

I mean if they actually traded him I'd be pissed but this is not a problem for me. Skipping an exit meeting was extremely uncool considering management has always had KPs back. KP seems to have forgiven all those lame fans that booed him or questioned him on draft day but not recalling that Phil, Knicks are the franchise that gave him a chance and have brought him along slowly and well in a manner he is extremely protected. Was very uncool of KP to show that disrespect to the same guys who drafted him and took a chance on him.

There's no bigger KP fan than me and i was one of the few that wanted us to draft him from the start but i agree with everything you're saying. This kid is 21 and has been in the league for 2 years and for him to already make a move like this could actually turn into a bad thing if we just let him get away with it. I hope to hell we don't trade him but i think talking to teams and listening to all offers and making sure KP knows about it is the right thing to do.

newyorker4ever wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:Can't see us trade KP
But he deserves his "off the table" label aka untouchable status revoked after the lack of professionalism he showed

I'm one of his big fans and I get accused of being Latvian lol but Knicks should push back and show KP he cannot do that stuff. Being open to trade talks should put KP in his place a little and not let him think he can do whatever he wants

I mean if they actually traded him I'd be pissed but this is not a problem for me. Skipping an exit meeting was extremely uncool considering management has always had KPs back. KP seems to have forgiven all those lame fans that booed him or questioned him on draft day but not recalling that Phil, Knicks are the franchise that gave him a chance and have brought him along slowly and well in a manner he is extremely protected. Was very uncool of KP to show that disrespect to the same guys who drafted him and took a chance on him.

There's no bigger KP fan than me and i was one of the few that wanted us to draft him from the start but i agree with everything you're saying. This kid is 21 and has been in the league for 2 years and for him to already make a move like this could actually turn into a bad thing if we just let him get away with it. I hope to hell we don't trade him but i think talking to teams and listening to all offers and making sure KP knows about it is the right thing to do.

I prefer to keep it to basketball only and let the business side sort itself out over time. "Letting him get away with it"? Its a moral judgement we know little about and we rush to weigh in on what happened, when we don't know.

All players want to "win", at least publicly. Nalod is cool with letting it all play out. KP can't be free for three years. For all we know our unicorn after his disney story aired might have been seen as a teen idol type and not playing well with potential sponsors. So perhaps the unicorn gets a few Tats this summer, kicks up to add some "danger" to his rep and start selling vodka back home. Who the hell knows what his beef is, or his brother. Maybe Janis wants money, room on the plane, and other things. Phil is not too keen on treating played differently. We saw what Marbury did, Lebron has played havoc with front offices when empowered, and maybe the Portzingus "Posse" is a little too full of themselves? I don't know, just me guessing.

If there was discord among knick coach's and KP getting mixed signals then the team has to fix it going forward. This summer, get the roster fixed and either move on from Melo or make peace with who he is and visa versa.

If we dont get back a player with equal potential for Porzingis. Someone who has been setting NBA records since he got into the league, then its a waste of a trade. The players we would get back we will likely find that mgmt would have been able to acquire without KP. Maybe not the same exact player, but the same skill set.

The only exception I would make is a deal possibly involving multiple top 5 picks, if its a strong draft class at the top. Otherwise its a waste. Its very unlikely you will find a player with KP's skill set in a big with low first round picks. Or find a player with his potential with just one high pick.

Better odds for the team to build around KP, than a player(s) to be named later who may never be as good as Porzingis.