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Anyone know a good guy for cleaning coffee out of keyboards?
Make sure you swallow whatever food or drink you’re consuming, sit down, and read this:
Sources: As teams become aware Phil Jackson isn't ruling out possibility of trading Kristaps Porzingis, frenzy of interest is growing today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 20, 2017
Sources: Phil Jackson met with Lauri Markkanen in New York on Monday, a player whom he's considering at No. 8 should Knicks move Porzingis. https://t.co/44d8EqMoBm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 20, 2017
League sources in touch with the Knicks say the club has not dismissed the possibility of trading Kristaps Porzingis in recent conversations
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 20, 2017
No one from the Knicks organization has been in touch with Kristaps Porzingis since he skipped exit meetings, per league sources.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 20, 2017
Then Begley expanded a little with this:
The Knicks have gotten several calls from teams interested in trading for Kristaps Porzingis in recent days, per ESPN sources. Porzingis' brother, Janis, said that Porzingis loves New York and wants to win here. He reiterates that his brother will play out his contract and explore free agency if traded.
And then there’s this:
"Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York," Janis Porzingis said. "He loves the city and he loves the fans and he wants to win with this team. if he's going to be traded , he's going to play out his contact and decide his future on his own."
So the Knicks have a young star who loves the city and wants to ride-or-die with this team and win here. Natural next step, trade him!
I honestly have no words for this. Unless the Knicks are about to get back LeBron James and Steph Curry, I can’t really see why they’d even entertain the idea of trading Porzingis.
If the Markkanen stuff is true, that makes this even more scary, since that shows Phil is actually seriously considering this move.
Here’s hoping that this is all smoke, no fire. Updates will come as available! (Hopefully of the “Phil Jackson committed to insane asylum, Knicks GM position given to LITERALLY ANYBODY ELSE” variety.)
UPDATE (1:41 p.m.): A little something from USA Today’s Sam Amick:
On the Kristaps Porzingis front, one exec who has been in touch with the Knicks describes their asking price as "very aggressive."
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 20, 2017
So there’s that, at least.
UPDATE (4:33 p.m.): THE UNICORN HAS SPOKEN:
Kristaps Porzingis just posted this on his IG story. Phil Jackson is not making many friends these days in New York. pic.twitter.com/2tG4WHdHbA
— Steven Tsakanikas (@SteveTsak) June 20, 2017
For those unaware: FR = For Real. Used in a sentence: “You’re seriously trying to trade me? Are you FR right now?”
This is reminiscent of this clap-back from Melo after Phil’s end-of-season presser.
UPDATE (5:52 p.m.): Former Knicks and Lakers beat reporter (AKA well-connected with both Phil and the Knicks) Howard Beck is here to sooth all of our souls:
FWIW, plugged-in source says to "disregard" buzz about Knicks trading Porzingis. They aren't shopping him, though they have taken calls.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) June 20, 2017
That makes me feel quite a bit better.