Bobby Portis played for the Knicks during the 2019/20 season and it’s not out of the question he’ll return for a second stint, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Portis is widely expected to decline his $3.8MM player option, which would make him an unrestricted free agent this summer. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Knicks were interested in the Bucks’ power forward, who averaged 11.4 PPG and 7.1 RPG this season. They declined a $15MM option on Portis last offseason but were open to him returning at a reduced price, Berman adds.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks desperately tried to convince Kevin Durant to join them in free agency and keep him away from the Nets, claims Matt Sullivan’s new book, “Can’t Knock the Hustle: Inside the Season of Protest, Pandemic, and Progress with the Brooklyn Nets’ Superstars of Tomorrow” (hat tip to NetsDaily.com). The Knicks even went so far as to urge Durant’s father Wayne Pratt — a Knicks fan — to intervene and convince his son to play with them. That approach backfired on them, as Sullivan detailed.
- Joel Embiid’s injury history — the latest being his current knee ailment — could affect extension talks with the Sixers, Derek Bodner of The Athletic notes. Embiid has two years left on his current contract and could sign a four-year super-max extension this summer. If he waits until next summer, he could get an extra year on that extension, but would have to re-qualify for the super-max by making an All-NBA team again next season, winning Defensive Player of the Year, or earning MVP honors. With the injuries piling up, Embiid might want to lock into an extension sooner rather than later.
- The Knicks, Sixers, Heat and Mavericks would seem to be logical destinations for the Raptors’ longtime point guard Kyle Lowry if he leaves Toronto. Eric Koreen of The Athletic takes a closer look at how Lowry would fit onto each of those teams.
Man, that 3rd Embiid contract scares me.
I think Embiid is the best player in the world
Ben Simmons contract $170 million
Andrew Wiggins contract $65 million
Would you trade Simmons for Wiggins straight up?
Wiggins is a defender， 3 and D
48% FG
38% 3pt
Harris contract $180 million
Simmons contract $170 million
Embiid $228 million?
I think Embiid CAN be the best player in the world when he is 100% and on his game. I worry about the 3rd contract because I don’t think he has much prime left.
And no, I wouldn’t trade Simmons for Wiggins and a pick, let alone straight up
Also, that Harris contract is a killer. Elton Brand screwed us with that.
Simmons is overpaid by $50 million
Warriors can only do a second round pick because 14th pick is 4 year contract and RFA
I don’t care what he is overpaid by. I have no interest in any trade that brings back Andrew Wiggins
I don’t know…Harris for Wiggins then? Even if you just release Wiggins afterward you can’t say there is no scenario where you trade for Wiggins when you have toxic contracts on the books that you admit is poison for the franchise. Sometimes just getting clear of a big chunk of cap space in future years is more valuable than whatever asset may be coming back.
I absolutely agree we need to move one of the contracts. Prefer we move Harris. I’m still not ready to give up on Ben. He is only 24. And he still shoots with the wrong hand.
As I said in other posts, I just have 0 interest in the player. Someone else on Wiggins level and I’d consider it. For Wiggins it’s a flat no.
Ben’s trade value is being destroyed these playoffs. GW would be right one in asking for a 1st Rd draft pick in swapping Wiggins for Ben.
I’m not saying it’s not value. I just have no interest in the player. Give me someone else of his caliber and I’d consider it.
Yeah, they gotta do it…and you know it will turn out bad. He looks 33 now.
Please no to Lowry to the sixers. Anything but that
I only want Lowry on the Knicks if he can convince DeRozan to come join him. Lowry to Miami or Philadelphia is more likely. It’s still probably going to take 2-3 more years of Knicks respectability to convince anyone of importance to come to New York.
Sounds like you want to win 48 games and get knocked out in the second round. That would about be the ceiling of a Lowry Derozan reunion.
What if both pair with Luka?
Lowry would have made his free throws last night.
“The Knicks even went so far as to urge Durant’s father Wayne Pratt — a Knicks fan — to intervene and convince his son to play with them.” – as a Knicks fan, Spike Lee should make a movie about it. Oh wait no, he already did.
Actually, it would be shock (to me) if the Knicks were interest in Portis. They can’t get minutes for Toppin. Portis couldn’t really be a 5 in our system (any more than Randle and Toppin are).
Yeah, I don’t see it, either. I think it’s more filler from Berman of the Post. He’s got to write a few columns a week so he just makes up nonsense like this.
Maybe they’d be interested in him due to his improved shot, but yeah, not a good system fit and will likely cost more than the Knicks want to spend.
Right, I thought it was the old regime that wanted to have half a roster full of power forward types.
What’s the story with Portis now? Bucks figure out he’s not got what it takes to help them beat the Nets?
Maybe if they move Toppin. Noel probably gone too. Wouldn’t offer much. I think they get a big in draft. Much easier and long term productive. Knicks most important thing is another scorer and PG. Lowry could go Heat, Lakers, Sixers. Knicks are better off with younger.
Bucks bench scored FOUR points……. 4
Embiid and Sixers need a real PG. this obsession with Ben is only going to keep them from winning. Why isn’t he shooting 70% FT by now. Mailman made himself into a solid FT shooter. Look it up. If you can’t improve your gm somehow. You are not a star. Ben should be on the wing. He should be posting and driving and getting fouls all day. I guess he don’t want contact.
I mean there are YouTube guys who improve their free throws by taking a thousand a day for a month.
The problem is obviously mechanical but there is probably a psychological aspect too.
Giannis and Ben almost unplayable until they improve.
I’d ‘like’ to see Brooklyn hacking Giannis more.