Kristaps Porzingis Seems Excited About Teaming Up With Luka Doncic In Dallas

Porzingis, who will become a restricted free agent this summer, averaged 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks in 186 games with the Knicks. If Porzingis comes back at 100 percent - even if it's next season - they could be a team to keep an eye on in the vaunted Western Conference for years to come. The question is - would made-up stars like Dirving and Kurant find Smith Jr. and Knox intriguing enough to overlook the holes on the rest of the roster and the legacy of mismanagement the Knicks hold. But they declined to give him a contract extension last summer, and now by trading him and Hardaway seem instead to be gearing up to pursue players in free agency.

The Knicks (10-40) have the worst record in the National Basketball Association and are already going to get a high pick in the entry draft.

It looked like the deadline was going to be defined by the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. What we do know is that Doncic has to be thrilled to have Porzingis in Dallas with him. Interestingly, New York passed on the player and drafted Frank Ntilikina with the No. 8 overall pick.

But they had two things working against them: Porzingis' health and his contract status.

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Porzingis has been sidelined for almost a year after tearing his left ACL.

In December, team president Steve Mills said the team was pleased with Porzingis' recovery from his ACL, and another round of testing scheduled for mid-February could clarify his timeline for his return.

The Mavericks are hoping to re-sign Porzingis, who will be a free agent, to a long-term deal in the offseason.

Porzingis could sign a five-year deal with Dallas for upwards of $150 million, or a four-year offer sheet with another team for over $100 million that Mark Cuban could match. But Smith and two nebulous future first-round picks feels like selling low. When they walk, the organization recoups cap space and proceeds from there.