The New York Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavs in a shocking chain of events, very quickly after rumors of his “unhappiness” with the team surfaced. Yet the lauded unicorn was fine with staying in New York before he ultimately asked for a trade.

According to SNY's Ian Begley, Porzingis remained “fully committed” to remain with the team weeks prior to the trade, but it's still unclear what changed his mind in January leading to his trade request.

Begley further explained how his disgust with former president Phil Jackson was not the cause of his divorce with the Knicks, no longer holding ill will toward the organization after he was fired.

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“There's been an assumption that ex-team president Phil Jackson was the root of Porzingis' issues with the club. That's incorrect,” wrote Begley. “Some people around the Knicks during Porzingis' tenure in New York said his issues stemmed from a lack of faith that the Knicks could create a winning environment, one where he could thrive individually and on the team level.”

Steve Mills took over as president immediately after Jackson was fired, and while Mills and Porzingis were on the same page initially, something along the road wound up making the 7-foot-3 big man change his mind and no longer believe in the process.

The Knicks were optimistic about landing top-level stars in free agency, so they darted their only shot at opening up as much cap space as possible while getting a package of Dennis Smith Jr., Wes Matthews, DeAndre Jordan, two first-round picks and most importantly — cap space.