Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks Reportedly Won't Make Deadline for Contract Extension
The New York Knicks and star forward Kristaps Porzingis reportedly won't reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension before Monday's deadline.
On Wednesday, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reported there's "no indication" the sides are working toward a $158 million max deal as Porzingis continues his recovery from a torn ACL.
"He's feeling better every day, but it's still that frustrating slow drip for him," head coach David Fizdale said, adding the power forward isn't sprinting and doesn't have a definitive timetable for a return to game action.
Last month, general manager Scott Perry hinted the sides wouldn't complete an extension before the deadline. The Knicks have added incentive to wait an extra year because they can save $10 million in cap space by waiting to next summer, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
"Our philosophy is that we're going to stay connected with [the Porzingis camp]," Perry said. "It's a long-term thing. Obviously you mentioned the point of the cap space in July. 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."
Porzingis averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 steals across 48 appearances last season before suffering the knee injury. He ranked eighth among power forwards in Player Efficiency Rating, per ESPN.com.
Although the Knicks have upgraded their roster, including drafting Kevin Knox and signing Mario Hezonja, they aren't yet in the contender category.
So there isn't much incentive for New York to rush Porzingis back into the lineup. The Knicks can bring him along slowly—it wouldn't even be a total shock to see him sit out the entire season—and then use the extra cap space from delaying his extension to help chase high-end free agents next summer.
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