NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Kristaps Porzingis Trade Talks Commence; Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Williams Wants Rookie out?

By Mitch de Leon
Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks against Kris Humphries of the Washington Wizards Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison

The New York Knicks once again failed in their attempt to make the NBA playoffs. Despite the promise of Kristaps Porzingis and the improvement of Carmelo Anthony, the basketball team proved to be no match to the likes of Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls; Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat; and Jeremy Lin and Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets. Although Anthony has a close relationship with LeBron James, the New York Knicks are nowhere near the caliber of the reigning Cleveland Cavaliers - a team that actually struggles with chemistry problems courtesy of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. With the NBA playoffs rut they are stuck in, what will the New York Knicks do to not be in the same place next season?

Rumors are rife that the New York Knicks are looking into a Porzingis NBA trade. With the potential the rookie exhibited this season, a number of basketball teams are extremely interested in signing him. The list of possible trade partners includes the San Antonio Spurs where he can team up with Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. The Los Angeles Lakers are also rumored to be looking into a Porzingis trade. The speculations came after Kobe Bryant himself praised the New York Knicks rookie and called his deal with the team "brilliant."

Does this mean the Porzingis trade will push through soon? Since Anthony has been itching to go to a playoffs team, the New York Knicks might be pressured to add players capable of matching the NBA All-Star caliber of the veteran. Moreover, Porzingis remains a rookie in the league. Anthony might no longer be able to wait longer to watch the 20-year-old grow into his role in the team.

"No - because the goal was to make it to the playoffs and we didn't do that," said Porzingis when asked if he feels fulfilled this NBA season in light of his international fame. He added, "From that perspective, it's not what I wanted to achieve, but I think it was really good season for me to learn. This is nothing really to rush, but I'd like to come back the last few games and finish the season. I wanted to play all 82. But that didn't happen.''

With Porzingis' injuries, more questions were posed regarding his future. Although the rookie is eager to go back in the hardwood court, the concerns with his health block the possibility of reuniting with Anthony. Will this be the end of the line for Porzingis?

"I really want to come back and play the last few games. It's nothing we need to rush. I'll make sure I'm 100 percent, then I'll be back," shared Porzingis of his injuries. He added, "I'm young, and I always want to be on the floor. At the same time, I want to be smart about this. Nothing really to gain the last few games but I think I'll be back for the last two, three games hopefully. But it's not my decision at the end of the day."

With the Kevin Durant free agency coming up and a lot of other players, such as Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets, getting out of their contracts soon, will the New York Knicks choose to release Kristaps Porzingis? Will a Porzingis trade benefit the Carmelo Anthony team? 

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories