Sixers

The Kristaps Porzingis News is a Karmic Victory for Process Trusters

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 31st, 2019 · 3:45 PM EST

---

Woj dropping Kristaps Porzingis bombs on a Thursday afternoon:

Porzingis wants to play for a winner in New York, but is searching for clarity on his future role with the team and Knicks direction. Porzingis — out with an ACL injury — can be a restricted free agent this summer. https://t.co/JtZzQ02FCI

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019

Kristaps Porzingis left the Knicks with the impression that he prefers to be traded, league sources tell @ramonashelburne and me. Knicks are expected to commence discussions on moving him ahead of next Thursday's deadline.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2019

Ironic that Porzingis is concerned about a losing culture, because it wasn’t that long ago that Porzingis’ agent, Andy Miller, steered him away from the Sixers ahead of the 2015 draft because the camp “wanted no part” of the multi-year rebuild Sam Hinkie was currently undertaking.

A refresher from Woj, who was still with Yahoo back then (after the jump) –

Miller didn’t make it easy for Philadelphia to draft Porzingis at No. 3. The Sixers wouldn’t be afforded Porzingis’ physical, nor get a private workout, nor even a face-to-face meeting. After most of the pro day executives cleared out of the gym in Vegas in mid-June, 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie lingered to meet with Miller. Hinkie stopped him in the lobby area and asked Miller about a chance to sit down and visit with Porzingis.

“You said that I would get a meeting with him here,” Hinkie told Miller.

“I said, ‘I’d try,’ and it’s not going to work out, Sam,” Miller responded.

An awkward silence lingered, the GM and agent, standing and staring. The Porzingis camp wanted no part of the Sixers’ situation at No 3. Miller couldn’t stop Philadelphia from drafting Porzingis, but he could limit the information they had to make a decision. And did. No physical. No meeting. No workout. The Sixers passed on Porzingis on draft night, clearing the way for the Knicks to select him.

Regardless of how you feel about Hinkie and the Process, the Sixers are clearly in a better spot than the Knicks right now, a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2012-2013. Yes, Porzingis is injured, but New York ownership hasn’t exactly built a juggernaut around him in the interim.

There were, of course, reports that Sixers ownership was more interested in eventual draft pick Jahlil Okafor than an unknown European prospect who ended up being a lot better than anybody thought. Hinkie could have taken Porzingis anyway, but went with Jah, and you know the rest of the story.

Edit: this escalated quickly –

The Dallas Mavericks are nearing a trade to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks, according to league sources

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 31, 2019

The Knicks would receive Dennis Smith Jr. and the expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews in the proposed trade, according to league sources

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 31, 2019

A deal between the teams appears imminent, league sources tell @nytsports

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 31, 2019