ORLANDO, Fla. _ Kristaps Porzingis seems firmly planted as the Knicks' franchise player going forward, which wasn't necessarily the case a little more than a week ago.
Ex-Knicks president Phil Jackson said he was receiving calls for Porzingis before the draft and sounded open to trading him. But in the last two days Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek has said Porzingis is ready to be the focal point of the Knicks' offense and that he doesn't expect him to be traded.
"We love KP and what he does," Hornacek said. "I don't see him going anywhere."
You can feel the shift in the Knicks now that Jackson isn't calling the shots anymore.
Jackson was upset that Porzingis missed his exit meeting. In April, Jackson said that he didn't think Porzingis was ready to carry the load for the Knicks. Then Jackson made it sound possible that Porzingis could be traded. Some believe he was trying to send a message to the young big man who just completed his second NBA season.
Hornacek is taking a different tact, knowing how important Porzingis will be going forward, especially since Carmelo Anthony may not be back with the Knicks.
Hornacek doesn't appear as bothered by Porzingis skipping the meeting _ which he did out of frustration over the dysfunction in and the direction of the franchise _ and said too much is being made of it.
"KP, that's what he felt at the moment," Hornacek said, "and then he goes, 'I'm good, let's go.' So guys make decisions to do whatever. I'm sure when he comes back, we'll talk. If you're going to be more of the leader on the team those things are lessons. Not that big a deal."
Hornacek hasn't ruled out going over to Europe to see Porzingis later in the summer. He's out there training and preparing for the European championships. Hornacek has made it sound they have had contact with each other, possibly more so recently since Jackson left.
Earlier in the offseason, Hornacek sent texts to Porzingis that weren't returned. Until recently, Knicks' officials only contact had been with Porzingis' brother Janis.
"We've been in contact with him," Hornacek said. "So he's busy out there working on his game and we know he is so I don't [think] it's too big a deal what's going on," Hornacek said. "He'll be back ready to play."
The Knicks, seemingly, are going with a youth movement. Anthony's future with the Knicks is in doubt. They drafted 18-year French guard Frank Ntilikina, and their only move to this point in free agency was to bring back Ron Baker, an undrafted rookie who made the team last season, on a two-year deal.
That should put Porzingis' front and center as the Knicks go-to guy, and player around whom they will build.
In his second NBA season, Porzingis averaged 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in 66 games, but he had to share the ball and shots with Anthony and Derrick Rose. Porzingis took 14.9 shots per game, the third most on the team.
His numbers dipped as the season wore on and as health issues arose. Porzingis ended up missing 16 games. But Hornacek believes he will be ready to carry the load next season.
"It's usually that third year in the league," Hornacek said. "The first year you're kind of getting your feet wet. Second year, now you're feeling more comfortable so you take those steps forward. The third year you're really confident.
"You've been in the league for a couple of years. You know guys' tendencies more. You know how guys guard you more. The game starts to slow down for you. When the game starts to slow down for you that's when you take those strides."
