Knicks take time with KP
There is no rush to get Kristaps Porzingis back on the court or sign him to a contract extension.
That was the sentiment relayed Thursday by the Knicks front office, including president Steve Mills, who said there remains no clarity on when his star forward will play again.
“There are a series of tests that are taking place to see exactly where he is in his rehab, and as he hits certain milestones we’ll continue his rehab process all toward the direction of when he feels
100 % comfortable, when we feel
100% comfortable,”
Mills said. “We’re not taking any risks with him.”
Porzingis tore his ACL in early February, more than seven months ago, and the front office had claimed it’d have a better idea about his timeline by September. Apparently, that isn’t the case. Projections range from a January return to missing the entire season.
The 23-year-old is back in New York and will be at the team’s Media Day on Monday, possibly with more clarity on his health.
He is also eligible for a 5year, $157 million contract extension, which would have to be offered and signed by Halloween. The Knicks have reasons to delay the extension until next summer, however, and that sounds like where this is headed.
Mills indicated that Porzingis won’t take the decision personally.
“He’ll never feel like he’s not a cornerstone part of what we’re trying to do here,” Mills said. “He understands that. We make that crystal clear to him and his representation.”
Porzingis won’t earn extra money by signing an extension now since it wouldn’t kick in until the 2019-20 season. It’d just be guaranteed earlier, giving Porzingis a better sense of security and attachment to the franchise as he recovers from surgery. However, the Knicks would save roughly $10 million in cap space for 2019 free agency by waiting until July to re-sign Porzingis as a restricted free agent.
From Porzingis’ 2015 rookie class, only Phoenix’s Devin Booker signed a max extension this offseason. Others who are eligible include Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell and Indiana’s Myles Turner.
Knicks GM Scott Perry said the dialogue with Porzingis and his agent – who is also Porzingis’ brother – has been reassuring. It was only a year ago when the relationship was strained to the point of Porzingis’ camp threatening to turn down an extension.
“Our philosophy is that we’re going to stay connected with them,” Perry said. “It’s a long-term thing. Obviously you mentioned the point of the extra cap space in July (we’d have if we waited to give Porzingis an extension). But again, we’re going to continue to keep the dynamics of the conversation in-house. And keep the integrity of that process in order. But we just feel like we’re in a real good space with him, as well as he is with us. And we’re going to do the right thing by him and this organization.”