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The New York Knicks decided not to allow Kristaps Porzingis to extend their rookie contract before Monday's deadline, which will give New York an additional $ 10 million cap in the summer of 2019 and will make Porzingis a restricted free agent during the off season.
The Knicks have the intention of looking for the best free players next summer. A group including Golden State striker Kevin Durant, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, Boston Celtics leader Kyrie Irving and Minnesota Timberwolves goalkeeper / forward Jimmy Butler, should do free practice. Irving, however, said earlier this month that he was considering signing with the Celtics again.
While waiting for the summer to negotiate an extension with Porzingis, currently rehabilitated from the ACL surgery, New York is about to have enough space for a maximum player. The club also gave up Joakim Noah and exhausted the $ 19.3 million he owes in 2019-2020, the last season of his contract, to create more caps for next summer.
New York plans to have $ 31 million in theaters next summer. The room does not take into account the salary due to his choice of first round of 2019 nor the free take of Enes Kanter, which is in the last year of his contract.
The maximum contract expected for next season for a player with 7 to 9 years of service is $ 32.7 million. The maximum contract for a player with more than 10 years of service is $ 38.15 million.
The Knicks will have to perform at least one other transaction reducing their salary commitments for 2019-20 in order to be able to sign a contract with a free agent.
The club hopes to pair this player around a young core titled by Porzingis. Meanwhile until July, the risk of offering an extension to Porzingis is to give other teams the opportunity to sign an offer in favor of Porzingis as a restricted free agent. New York, however, would have the opportunity to join any other team's offer.
The Knicks think that Porzingis, who should be absent at least until December, adheres to his instructions.
"KP is engaged and we are in a good position with him," said team president Steve Mills at an event gathering fans last month.
Porzingis had expressed frustration with the club's management after his second season and had missed an exit meeting with team president Phil Jackson. The club then discussed potential exchanges of Porzingis with other teams, but no agreement was reached.
Porzingis has been saying many times since he wanted to stay in New York until the end of his career.
First year head coach David Fizdale congratulated Porzingis for his leadership at the training camp.
"It has been great to be in the gym, it's like having another coach," said Fizdale, who asked about the extension of management. "The movie sessions, he talks as much as any coach of our staff, and what he has to say is exactly what we need." engaged in the practices, helping (the recruiting center), Mitchell (Robinson), in a lot of that sort of thing.He somehow led him to follow him quickly.And he poses some excellent questions . "
When asked if Porzingis seemed tied to the planned direction of the team, Fizdale replied that there was "nothing that indicates the difference".
"I always look at it from the point of view of connection, and nothing tells me that there is a disconnect," Fizdale said. "He's having fun with these guys, he's engaging with me, with the staff, I'm just seeing a teammate, I see a guy who's just trying to contribute in every way possible." And for me , it's a guy that's engaged and locked up. "
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