Prior to All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving being traded to the Boston Celtics over the offseason, the New York Knicks were lurking as a possible landing spot.
However, nothing truly came about between both teams as the Celtics quickly zeroed in to acquire Irving back in late August shortly after his trade request became public. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, rising star forward Kristaps Porzingis voiced on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the team's matchup that he dreamed about playing alongside the four-time All-Star.
“Playing with a guy like that would make the game a lot easier,’’ Porzingis said. “That’s dreaming how it would be. He’s not here with us. He’s in Boston. That type of player would bring a lot to this team.’’
Although this is Porzingis' first public comments about the situation, he had hinted at it during the offseason by liking a tweet from a fan about Irving possibly joining the Knicks. There was a clear desire for him to play with the 25-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the top players and point guards in the league.
However, the chances of that immediately became slim to none as the Cleveland Cavaliers had reportedly requested to get Porzingis in any trade offer for Irving. The Knicks had wavered around offering Carmelo Anthony but things had hit a standstill on that forefront for weeks and that new situation surrounding the All-Star point guard didn't change much at all.
It would have been quite an intriguing pairing of Porzingis and Irving in New York that could have made the Knicks relevant again, but that possibility is now out of the door.