The New York Knicks are content to be a lottery team in 2018-19 and will not rush star power forward Kristaps Porzingis back from his ACL injury, according to a report from Marc Berman of The New York Post.
Porzingis, 23, suffered a torn left ACL in February and underwent season-ending surgery shortly after. Per the Post's report, the earliest Porzingis could be back this year is around Christmas, but the organization won't force anything with their franchise cornerstone.
Before suffering the injury, Kristaps Porzingis was averaging 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game last season in 48 contests while shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from 3, and 79.3 percent from the free-throw line. The 7-footer rehabbed his injury this summer in Latvia. Knicks head coach David Fizdale visited Porzingis in Latvia and got to know his new star player.
It was important for Fizdale to spend time with Porzingis and his family this offseason. Porzingis had a murky relationship with ex-coach Jeff Hornacek, so the Knicks made it a priority for Fizdale and Porzingis to get off to a good start.
Vegas’ Westgate Sports Book has put the Knicks with an over-under of 29 ½ wins for the upcoming season. New York won 29 games last year and lost 53. They finished 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.
The hope in New York is whenever Porzingis comes back, he's able to produce at the level he was before tearing his ACL. In 186 career games with the Knicks, Porzingis has averaged 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game.
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