This should have been a marriage that lasted for years, maybe for more than a decade. The Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis in 2015, and it appeared as if the then 19-year-old 7-foot-3 phenom would become a franchise pillar.
Instead, the relationship began to fray until it stunningly fractured nine-plus months ago with his trade to Dallas.
Porzingis became upset at the Knicks’ unwillingness to hire his physiotherapist, grew alarmed with their treatment of former teammate (and Porzingis’ face-of-the-franchise predecessor) Carmelo Anthony and established little trust in Knicks president Steve Mills’ direction of the team.
The Knicks, meanwhile, believe Porzingis began exhibiting diva behavior (including blowing off his exit meeting with management following the 2016-17 season and cursing at his coach during practice), developed concerns about his brother/agent and felt Porzingis was becoming detached from the team.