The brother of big man Kristaps Porzingis has suggested that the talented Latvian eventually re-signing with the Knicks is not at all a foregone conclusion, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
Janis Porzingis, who serves as an agent and mentor for his younger brother, said that the Knicks’ ability to offer the most money and long-term security is of little consequence. He also stated that Kristaps’ decision to skip last season’s exit interview was a calculated one.
“(Skipping the exit interview) wasn’t an emotional decision,” Janis told Latvian publication Sports Avize, as translated by Eurohoops.net. “It wasn’t a spontaneous action. We had been thinking about it for a long time and it was considered an honest, well-thought decision we came up with together.”
Janis went on to lob grenades in the direction of former Knick and current Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony, taking issue with the fact that Melo was seemingly complacent with the Knicks’ lack of direction. And lest the team take solace in the notion that jettisoning Anthony would secure Porzingis’ loyalty, his brother flatly implies that the franchise needs Kristaps more than he needs the Knicks.
“From their point of view, Kristaps is the focal point at the moment so you cannot upset him much or otherwise, at the end of the season, he will say, ‘It’s not so cool here,'” the older Porzingis brother said. “The second question is: Who is the New York audience coming to watch now? To a large extent, it’s Kristaps. So the organization has to take that into account.”
Things could continue to get dicey next summer, with Porzingis eligible for a five-year maximum extension valued somewhere around $150MM. It seems likely the team will offer such an extension, but whether or not it is signed by Porzingis appears far less certain. If his goal is to reach unrestricted free agency as soon as possible, Porzingis could sign his qualifying offer when he becomes an RFA in 2019, then hit the open market as a UFA in 2020.
He won’t go anywhere. It’s just his immature brother flapping his gums.
Wrong — it’s his bro saying show me the money and bring in another star
Maybe the influence of Janis is why Zinger seems so dicey to me.
I REALLY hope they f this up like always so he can go to the Celtics
I said after the exit interview, and I’ll say it again now, the Knicks should move Zinger while his value is still extremely high.
He is über talented, but I’m not sure he’s a true superstar. I watched him take too many possessions off at the defensive end last year, standing around looking for the opportunistic block. All the gum flapping from his brother added to that and while not popular, if the Knicks could also move Noah’s boat anchor in the deal while getting back quality assets and picks, I would be more than ok with it.
He also co-represents him.
I’m not sure y anyone is surprised by these words… This is exactly what every other star player has done and everyone gets mad because they didn’t tell anyone. Well he’s saying exactly what all the others have but prior to free agency instead of after they already leave. Knicks turn to try to find a legit running mate or he will leave. Simple as that. It’s a business, if ur a teacher surrounded by a bunch of bad teachers u leave and find a better district etc. has nothing to do with his brothers advise. Has everything to do with the terrible management in the organization
If you are a teacher surrounded by bad teachers, you stay, lead by example, teach and raise the standards. That is if you are a real teacher.
Lol, agreed. Comparing Apples to Basketballs here; not a good career comparison.
On second read I see a couple key words including “translation”. This is how Euros talk to Euros, which was probably the intention. It’s not like he was lying or delusional.
One reason Milwaukee made few deals this offseason was the main objective in finding a match for 2Many to keep him from leaving, rather than just randomly strengthening the roster overall. The Knicks are probably in that boat now too with their own GianA.
BTW we need a poll to decide what we’re going to call Giannis Andonandon. “Greek Freak” doesn’t cut it. IMO neither does his Greecified Nigerian name sorry. That’s the wrong kind of naming contest, getting through it.