It turns out Kristaps Porzingis gave the New York Knicks an ultimatum before they traded him to the Dallas Mavericks.
Porzingis told Knicks general manager Scott Perry and president Steve Mills if they didn't trade him in seven days after his request, he will return to Europe, per #Knockstape's official Twitter account.
Interesting new information on the Porzingis trade from today’s JPM speaker event with Scott Perry and Steve Mills
KP threatened to go back to Europe if not traded within 7 days
Scott and Steve had trade offers lined up dating back to last September pic.twitter.com/JGp1EQQrUV
— #tape (@212NYNY) May 22, 2019
Mills confirmed Porzingis' threat to the New York Post during a Chase Fan Forum Series on May 22.
He…point-blank said to us, ‘I don't want to be here. I'm not going to re-sign with the Knicks and I'm going to give you seven days to trade me, or I'm going back to Europe.'
According to an article which the New York Post's Marc Bergman wrote on February 4, Porzingis didn't elaborate why he wanted to leave New York.
However, Bergman wrote, “Sources indicate Porzingis was frustrated by the league-worst losing and wondered whether it would change in the future.” Bergman also mentioned Porzingis had no plans of suiting up for the Knicks during the 2018-19 NBA season.
Porzingis should take the court for the Dallas Mavericks once the 2019-20 NBA season kicks off in October. By then, it would be 20 months since he tore his ACL against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2018.
Knicks president Steve Mills claims that at around the trade deadline, Kristaps Porziņģis threatened to go back to Europe and not play if he wasn’t traded within the next 7 days
(@KnicksGuy1) pic.twitter.com/xx5fvEg3sb— @knxexprt on IG (@knxexprt) May 23, 2019
Porzingis admitted to Bergman in February the plan all along was for him to rehab for 20 months. The former said he expects a bit of rust, but he said his visualization techniques and film habits should help him stay on track.
As for the Knicks, they are now focusing on their two maximum salary slots, per the New York Post. They're hoping they can land two big-name free agents this summer. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are the two most prominent names in the Knicks' free-agent rumblings.
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