NBA PREVIEW SPECIAL
FIZ KIDS ON ROAD TO RECOVERY B’KLYN READY TO TAKE NEXT STEP CELTICS PRIMED TO TOPPLE WARRIORS
What was long expected became official as the Knicks let Monday’s deadline pass without signing Kristaps Porzingis to a rookie extension, making the face of the franchise a restricted free agent next summer.
By waiting to sign their biggest star, the Knicks will save $10 million in cap space and be in stronger position to add an additional max contract in the potentially loaded upcoming freeagent class — which could include Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, and DeMarcus Cousins — while also having several more months to monitor how Porzingis recovers from the torn ACL he suffered Feb. 6.
Even if the Knicks weren’t able to match any offer made to Porzingis, David Fizdale believes the 23-year-old has bought into the team’s long-term plans.
“Yeah, it’s been nothing to indicate anything different,” Fizdale said Monday. “I’m always looking at it from a connection standpoint, and there is nothing that’s told me that there’s any disconnection. He’s having fun with these guys, he’s engaging with me, with the staff. I just see a teammate out there, I see a guy that’s just trying to contribute in any way he can. And to me, that says [he’s] a guy that’s engaged and locked in.
“All I know is he’s been awesome to have in the gym. It’s like having another coach. The film sessions, he speaks up as much as any coach on our staff. And what he has to say is exactly what we need said. He’s engaged in the practices, helping Mitchell [Robinson] along in a lot of this stuff. He’s kind of taken him on a little bit to fast-track him. ... So that’s the part I’ve been paying attention to. How he’s been leading, how he’s been engaging and I’ll leave that other stuff to [the front office].”
On a roster filled with even less-experienced players, Porzingis has grown more comfortable in the role unavoidably stitched to his status.
“He asks great questions. Certain other guys are shy about asking a question, so KP will ask a question just to take that pressure off that guy,” Fizdale said. “... It’s happened multiple times, honestly. It’s not that a guy is like, it’s a dumb question, but certain guys don’t feel comfortable at times speaking up. They don’t want to ask a dumb question or something like that and they say, ‘KP what about this?’ KP will go, ‘Coach!’ That’s leadership. The guy will feel more comfortable and know that KP is willing to speak up for him. That connects him.”
While Porzingis was rarely around the team after getting injured last sea- son, and conducted his offseason rehab program in Europe, the 7-foot-3 forward has since made a strong impact on his teammates.
“He’s so involved in everything now, with practice, in games, with shootarounds, and when you see an All-Star guy just cheering for you, clapping for you, trying to talk to you, help you, it just gives you so much motivation,” Enes Kanter said. “I’m happy to see him out there even if he’s not playing because he’s helping everybody so much.
“He knows we are not his teammates, we’re his family. We are his brothers. We love him here. Of course, who wouldn’t want him? I love the guy, not just on the court, off the court. He’s an amazing friend, and he’s been helping everybody out even when he’s not playing. Definitely, man, we’d love to have him here. It’s not a question.”