Washington Wizards All-Star Kristaps Porzingis can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2023-24 player option and one NBA writer has linked the 27-year-old to his old team, the New York Knicks.
Enzo Flojo of ClutchPoints believes Porzingis signing with the Knicks this offseason wouldn’t be such a bad idea for both sides.
“The Knicks have been linked to Porzingis for an extended period,” Flojo wrote. “A reunion with the team that drafted him could be a fitting scenario for Porzingis. With him complementing a roster centered around Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, the Latvian should shine as a No. 3 or even No. 4 option. Meanwhile, the Knicks would gain a formidable player capable of elevating them to even stronger contention in the Eastern Conference.
“The team already surpassed expectations this past season, and they could do it again by bringing Porzingis back to the fold. Integrating Porzingis into this lineup would bolster their chances of reaching the next level.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kristaps Porzingis, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
The Knicks drafted Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Liepaja native averaged 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in 186 games with New York while shooting 43.7% from the field, 36.1% from beyond the arc and 80.4% from the free-throw line.
Porzingis missed the entire 2018-19 season recovering from an ACL tear. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in January 2019 due to a rocky relationship with the Knicks’ front office. KP, who gets booed whenever he plays at MSG, appeared in 134 games with Dallas before getting traded to the Wizards in February 2022.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kristaps Porzingis, Washington Wizards & New York Knicks Updates
Porzingis has career averages of 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds with the Knicks, Mavericks and Wizards. He put up 23.2 points per game this season for Washington while shooting 49.8% overall, 38.5% from 3-point range and 85.1% from the free-throw line.
Porzingis’ player option for next season is worth $36 million.
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