Kristaps Porzingis has been in the news a lot lately. However, he hasn’t been making headlines for the right reasons.
Kristaps Porzingis Headlines Don’t Mean He’s Leaving
First, he came under fire for skipping his exit-interview meeting with Phil Jackson. This was his way of protesting the way this franchise has handled itself recently. He is not happy with the direction of this franchise, nor was he happy with Jackson’s work. His rebellion got him a lot of negative press.
His latest blunder came cause of a tweet. He tweeted “LA Clippers” with smiley emoji’s. Porzingis claimed that his Twitter account was hacked. However, the tweet was removed within minutes after it was posted. And anything wrong or bad that is posted on Twitter these days has been claimed that is what due to hacking.
These incidents have caused fans to wonder if the New York Knicks might trade Porzingis. However, if any fan thinks that, they are wrong.
Porzingis is the Face of the Knicks
First of all, Porzingis is the future of this franchise. Even though he took a step back in his sophomore year, the kid has talent. He must be the centerpiece around which this franchise builds its foundation around. He has the size, skill, and good basketball IQ to succeed in this league. This type of player comes around very rarely, and the Knicks would be foolish to let him go anywhere.
Potential Trade Value
Secondly, even if the Knicks tried to trade him, they would never get the same amount of value back. You tend to forget that this kid is only 21 years old. Instead of resetting from ground zero, they can get rid of the older players and “stars” around him and give him younger players around him. This team needs to get faster. And Porzingis has good speed for a 7-footer. Unless if the Boston Celtics are trading their first-round pick, which we assume would be the first overall pick because it is the Brooklyn Nets’ pick, the Knicks will not get anything remotely close for the value of Porzingis.
Trading Porzingis Would be a Mistake
Finally, the Knicks would be foolish to give up on a third-year player. Some players take a while to adapt to the NBA. However, Porzingis has shown flashes of what he can become. He took over some games this year in the fourth quarter. Those were the games that excited the fanbase the most. Fans are clamoring for a young, homegrown star that can carry this franchise for years. Porzingis is that first piece of a youth movement.
Porzingis is the first step in the right direction for this franchise. He has made some poor choices since the Knicks’ season has ended. However, that doesn’t mean that you give up on him. This upcoming season will only be his third season in the league. He is a rare talent that you can build around and win with for years to come. Even though it is hard to trust the Knicks in recent years, they will keep Porzingis. Porzingis won’t go anywhere and will be an essential part of this franchise’s success.
