The Dallas Mavericks acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks last month, in a move that has more value to the franchise long-term than in their present situation. The Mavs have announced that Porzingis will not be playing this season, and rightfully so, as the team is likely to miss the playoffs.
Dallas is preparing him for next season, as he is expected to be the co-star to the team's rookie sensation, Luka Doncic. Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle is excited about the idea of coaching Porzingis, calling him a tremendous talent and someone who has very high basketball IQ, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
“What I’ve learned about him is he’s a tremendous talent, that’s obvious. He’s a great kid. He’s meticulous in how he approaches things. Very detailed. Extremely hardworking and organized in everything he does. Those are all the traits of somebody who has the ability to be tremendously great.
Carlisle doesn't mind Porzingis needing an extended period to recover from the torn ACL he suffered more than a year ago, as the team would definitely love to see him play at full strength. And so far, the coach has been pleased with how well the four-year veteran is recovering
“The No. 1 thing right now is his health. Getting him back 100 percent. Which will happen. In the meantime, he’s picked up his workouts. He’s doing more aggressive one-on-one’s, controlled banging type stuff with some of our assistants. And he’s making great progress.”
The prospect of having Doncic and Porzingis on the floor at the same time is very promising for the Mavs, that's why they are not pushing for immediate success because they know that once Luka and KP reach their primes, they will be instant contenders in the West.
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