The New York Knicks would be foolish to trade Kristaps Porzingis, but if they make him available, could the Phoenix Suns get in on the action?
If the New York Knicks are smart, they won't let the concerning events of the last few weeks snowball into something even worse. If the Knicks are smart, they'll find a way to move Carmelo Anthony, build around Kristaps Porzingis and NOT trade away their best shot at a true rebuild in over a decade.
You know, if the Knicks are smart. Which they absolutely are not.
Aside from yet another losing season, their current predicament started with the loud-mouthed attempts of team president Phil Jackson to shove Anthony out the door.
Though 99 percent of Knicks fans would agree trading Melo is the key to committing to a full-scale rebuild around Porzingis, the manner in which Jackson went about it was embarrassing and did the franchise no favors when it comes to building good will with future free agents.
In his attempt to alienate his current franchise player, Jackson made the fatal mistake of doing the same with his future franchise savior. In the midst of all the controversy surrounding the Zen Master's comments about Melo's future, Porzingis skipped his exit interviews with the team, making a statement about the unfair treatment of his friend and mentor.
Just a few days later, Porzingis tweeted "LA Clippers" with three smiley emojis, leading many to believe a trade was in the works involving him and/or Carmelo Anthony.
Tweeted. Then deleted. ???? pic.twitter.com/IjwPrcNfmD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 7, 2017
KP quickly deleted the tweet and later claimed he was hacked, citing his most-used emojis as "proof" that the smiley faces in question couldn't have been his.
Whether a trade to the Clippers is in the works or not — it'd likely be contingent on their ability to re-sign Blake Griffin this summer — the last few weeks don't look good for the Knicks, who once again seem to have estranged a superstar player.
Even before the alleged Twitter hacking, the situation felt so problematic that teams reached out to the Knicks about Porzingis' availability, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. The question is, were the Phoenix Suns one of them?
As reported by Begley, it's unknown if there were any serious discussion when teams came calling, and it would take a substantial offer to pry Porzingis from the Knicks. But the fact that we're even at this point — especially with a franchise as unstable as the Knicks — has to be concerning for the New York faithful.
Something's up.
-KP skips meeting
-Phil says no one is untouchable
–@IanBegley reports teams inquiring about a trade
-KP tweeting LAC pic.twitter.com/mlvOYMbfET— Thomas Duffy (@TJDhoops) May 7, 2017
At 21 years old and 7'3″, Porzingis is coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range.
In just his second season, KP already looks like the potential face of the franchise, not to mention one of the league's most versatile unicorns of the future. Though he missed 16 games due to injury, if there's even the slightest chance he's available, the Suns would have to at least consider making an offer for the increasingly disgruntled star-in-the-making.
While Porzingis is only entering the third year of his rookie contract, further tensions between the Knicks and their Latvian phenom could open up the door for Phoenix to sneak a few trade offers in. The Suns have several young, talented prospects, not to mention what figures to be the second overall pick in a loaded 2017 NBA Draft class.
In addition to this valuable pick, the Suns own all of their first-rounders moving forward, plus first-rounders from the Miami Heat in 2018 and 2021. A trade for the Zinger would leave Devin Booker as untouchable, since they'd want to pair him and KP together, but it'd make anyone else on Phoenix's roster 100 percent expendable in order to do so.
Maybe the Knicks would be interested in T.J. Warren, a 23-year-old scorer who was on the cusp of a career year before a mysterious head injury in November. Warren closed the season strong though, averaging 17.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 56 percent shooting after the All-Star break.
Rookie Marquese Chriss made plenty of mistakes on the defensive end, but at 19 years old, his breathtaking athleticism, never-back-down attitude and rapid development from three-point range should leave plenty of Suns fans optimistic about his future in this league.
Dragan Bender, the No. 4 overall pick in last year's draft, had an admittedly underwhelming season, posting low numbers across the board and missing 39 games due to injury. However, the youngest player in the draft was always expected to be a bit of a project, and he looks like he could be a poor man's, more defensively inclined version of Porzingis.
The Knicks would be crazy to trade away their greatest source of hope for the future, who is more of a sure thing than any young player the Suns could offer in return. But if Phoenix gets the No. 1 or the No. 2 overall pick and is willing to throw in some sweeteners like Warren, Bender, Chriss or a future first-rounder, New York would have to at least think about it, right?
(Tyler Ulis might be another potential sweetener, but even if he would hardly be considered off limits in a potential Porzingis trade, his friendship with Booker would definitely be something for general manager Ryan McDonough to think about.)
A package of Marquese Chriss and a top-two pick in this year's draft might not be enough to facilitate a deal, but throw in Warren or Bender and a future Miami pick and that might tempt the fates a little, especially if McDonough went all in on a Godfather offer centered around future prospects like this one:
The Knicks need a new franchise point guard with Derrick Rose being injured/terrible/a free agent this summer. They could potentially have their pick of Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball if the Suns get the No. 1 pick, or whichever one is left at No. 2 (or even Josh Jackson).
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They'd also get a quality, young wing in Warren, a young, moldable prospect in Bender and another future first rounder from Miami in the process. The Suns wouldn't find their long-term replacement for Eric Bledsoe and they'd still have Brandon Knight's contract to move, but it's unlikely either one of those players would really interest New York anyway.
Tyler Ulis might eventually develop into that Bledsoe successor, and even with the Suns possibly passing on a franchise point guard like Fultz or Ball, they'd be getting a surefire superstar to pair with Devin Booker for the long haul. That'd be pretty damn hard to turn down.
Porzingis being available would prompt plenty of offers around the league. The Boston Celtics might be tempted to deal their likely No. 1 overall pick in a guard-heavy draft. The Denver Nuggets would be drooling over a Porzingis-Nikola Jokic frontcourt, the Los Angeles Lakers would have to think about adding in a sure thing to their young core and even playoff contenders would consider picking up the phone.
But depending on what the Suns would be willing to give up, they'd be able to make one of the league's better offers. They'd then be looking at a Booker-Porzingis tandem, with both still under the age of 22. They'd have a versatile big who could play the 4 or the 5, spread the floor and protect the rim in the way Phoenix is hoping Chriss and/or Bender might be able to one day.
Again, there's been no official indication the Knicks are even thinking about trading Kristaps Porzingis, but if there's even the slightest inkling that he's available, the Phoenix Suns are one young team that would make sense as a potential trade partner.
