Perry: Ask KP about contract

With next summer and Kristaps Porzingis’ free agency looming over this upcoming season, GM Scott Perry said Tuesday that the Knicks remain driven toward making the Latvian “a part of us for the long term.”

But Perry also was vague about where the Knicks and Porzingis stand in that discussion, leaving much to interpretation a day after the contract-extension deadline passed without an agreement.

“I’m not going to get into predicting anything about the future,” Perry said. “I would just reiterate that I think as a group we have a shared goal of making the Knicks a very good basketball team going into the long term.”

Some have speculated that Porzingis was on board with the decision not to receive the five-year, $158 million max contract, with an understanding he’d sign for equal money as a restricted free agent in July.

Perry either didn’t know or wouldn’t discuss Porzingis’ acceptance of such a plan. Porzingis is not speaking to the media while rehabbing from ACL surgery.

“That’s a question you’d have to ask him,” he said. “He’s rehabbing very well. We’re pleased to see the progress that he’s making with that. Again, I think one of his goals where we are lined up is that this team be in a position to be very competitive moving forward.”

Since Porzingis will be a restricted free agent, the Knicks can match any offer. However, there are rules to monitor. If Porzingis signs with another team, the Knicks have 48 hours to match. And once they match, all of Porzingis’ cap money is tied up and the Knicks likely wouldn’t have enough left over to sign another max free agent.

The belief was that the Knicks passed on giving Porzingis an extension because it creates an extra $10 million in cap space next summer, which the Knicks needed to create a slot for another max contract. Perry, however, said that was simply “a byproduct” of the decision. Whatever was the driving force — or where this is headed — remains under wraps.

“I think that’s a byproduct of (not giving Porzingis an extension), the fact that financial flexibility is created because of that,” Perry said. “In terms of the actual dialogue that we were having, I’m going to keep the minutiae of that private conversation.

“That is a byproduct of it. Another thing I can add and say is that they want to win, Kristaps and his representation, as do we. I think we both want to see a Knicks roster that’s going to be highly competitive for the long term.”

Under the current NBA salary structure, Porzingis became the first All-Star not to sign a contract extension on his rookie deal.