Sources: Porzingis not target in shake-up

This wasn’t about Kristaps Porzingis.

The conspiracy theory regarding Knicks assistant coach Josh Longstaff ’s departure sounded plausible. But multiple NBA sources who have talked to members of the front office told The Post the Knicks had unofficially decided not to renew Longstaff ’s contract before the Kristaps Cold War.

Although Longstaff was only informed recently, the sources stated Knicks brass had decided on Longstaff ’s fate prior to Porzingis blowing off his exit meeting after the season, which created a divide between player and team.

Those sources state the Longstaff decision was in no way president Phil Jackson’s way of firing a warning shot toward the disgruntled Porzingis. Of all the assistants, Longstaff was closest to Porzingis.

Two sources said the 33-yearold Longstaff, for all his acclaim as a good workout guy with young players, had difficulty blending in with Knicks coaches he had not worked with in Oklahoma City during his three seasons at the Garden.

When Derek Fisher became head coach in 2014 after retiring as a player with OKC, he brought with him Thunder assistants Brian Keefe and Longstaff, then added David Bliss after the first season. Bliss, also a favorite of Porzingis, is still under contract and will return next season.

Head coach Jeff Hornacek let Keefe go last spring. Keefe and Longstaff were especially close. Keefe coached Longstaff at Bryant College in Rhode Island and got him hired in OKC.

Longstaff was the fifth assistant on Hornacek’s staff and sat in the second row behind the bench. Hornacek is now eyeing ex-Knick point guard Pablo Prigioni for a coaching position after talking to him at the NBA Scouting Combine, but Prigioni may wind up in Spain.

Longstaff was dispatched to Latvia last summer to work with Porzingis. Janis Porzingis, Kristaps’ older brother/agent, assumed Longstaff would come to Latvia again, stating so at a press conference in their home country late last month.