Knicks Rumors: Donovan Mitchell, De'Aaron Fox Targeted by NY in Porzingis Trade

Even though Kristaps Porzingis is saying all the right things now, the Dallas Mavericks reportedly weren't high on his list of preferred destinations.

Per Marc Stein of the New York Times, Porzingis and his agent/brother Janis Porzingis, gave the New York Knicks a small list of teams he wanted to play for prior to being traded Thursday:

"Janis Porzingis provided the Knicks with a list of four teams he and Kristaps had deemed acceptable trade destinations.

"The Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers were among those teams, but Dallas was not on the list. The Knicks, meanwhile, were told Porzingis was prepared to leave the team and continue his knee rehabilitation in Spain if he was not moved by this week's league trade deadline."

Stein noted the Knicks tried to trade Porzingis to the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell and to the Sacramento Kings for De'Aaron Fox, but they were turned down.

Knicks president Steve Mills told MSG Network's Rebecca Haarlow on Sunday that Porzingis informed them he wasn't going to sign an extension with the team.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported after the trade that Porzingis had yet to decide on his future with the Mavericks.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Porzingis intends to sign his one-year qualifying offer with the Mavericks this offseason.

During his introductory press conference Monday, Porzingis seemed reluctant to answer when asked if he would sign a long-term extension with Dallas, hesitating before owner Mark Cuban jumped in:

Porzingis did say he and the Mavs are "on the same page." The 23-year-old is unlikely to play this season while rehabbing his torn ACL. He averaged a career-high 22.7 points per game last season before injuring his knee last February.