Through his first two seasons in the league with the New York Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis developed a strong bond with Carmelo Anthony that extended off the court.

With Anthony being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder over the weekend, it has shifted things tremendously in New York to which Porzingis made light of the situation by offering his former teammate a playful suggestion.

All else aside, the 22-year-old has voiced a huge amount of respect toward Anthony for the mentorship he provided him in his brief NBA career. He has played an influential part in helping Porzingis become one of the promising young talents in the league.

That said, Anthony's departure now switches things up a bit with the focus of the Knicks being shifted toward now building the team around the former fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The opportunity for him to become the unquestioned next face of the franchise is now available to him to fulfill.

Meanwhile, Anthony is set to enter a situation where he could potentially compete for an NBA title alongside reigning league MVP Russell Westbrook and All-Star forward Paul George. It is a huge opportunity to also change the narrative around his career and be a part of something potentially special.