Phil Jackson confirms that Porzingis is available, looking for top-4 pick


Rumors of all kinds have been flying since yesterday about guys who are being shopped around the NBA, and while some of them may have little substance it would seem that the whispers about Kristaps Porzingis being available are very real. Phil Jackson confirmed that the New York Knicks are fielding offers for the 7'3 Latvian big man, one of the most promising young players in the NBA today:


I'm not so sure Knicks fans would agree that moving on from their best player is in the best interest of the franchise, but who am I to say. It seems to me as if this could be a case of sour grapes from Jackson after Porzingis skipped out on his exit meeting at the end of this past season.

Perhaps Jackson is just using this as a tool to publicly display his displeasure with Kristaps' actions at season's end. He may be fielding calls but he'd have to be completely bowled over with a godfather offer to even consider actually moving on from his prized young power-forward/center. Or maybe he's calling around and actively trying to move him:


Interesting. I know a team with a top-4 pick who doesn't seem sold on Josh Jackson! Given that the Lakers traded their point-guard DeAngelo Russell to Brooklyn yesterday it's pretty much a lock that they are taking Lonzo Ball at #2, leaving Jackson ready and available at #3. It would take a lot more than just that pick to land Kristaps; however, the Celtics certainly have plenty to give should they decide to. They might even be able to lower the asking price if they were willing to take on one of the albatross contracts the Knicks have on their books, one belonging to Carmelo Anthony and the other one of the worst in the entire NBA that belongs to Joakhim Noah - he's got another three years and about $55 million remaining on that deal.

While I seriously doubt Danny Ainge would be willing to take on Noah's awful deal and wreck the C's cap situation for the next three years Melo is more interesting. He's headed into the final season of his deal at $26-million and the Celtics have been linked to having interest in Anthony before. If it drives down the price on Porzingis enough to get him in green without dealing all of our future high picks I can deal with a season of Melo in Boston.

If the Knicks are really looking for a fresh start and to clear the books expect them to try and tie at least one of those two in any Porzingis deal.


Photo Credit - Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

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