Knicks Trade Rumors: Kristaps Porzingis' Future, Anthony Davis Talks, Zion Williamson Possibility

The New York Knicks are one of several teams that are expected to make a run at Anthony Davis before the Feb. 7 trade deadline. You can be sure that Kristaps Porzingis would be included in any offer that the Knicks might make to the New Orleans Pelicans over the next week.

Despite Davis’ trade request, New Orleans is more likely to hold onto the NBA’s best big man and trade him in the offseason. New York would probably still try to acquire Davis, in that case, but it might change their offer.

Porzingis is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, meaning he’d have to agree to a sign-and-trade in order to be sent to New Orleans after the 2019 NBA Finals. According to the latest ESPN report on the Knicks’ pursuit of Davis, Porzingis would be unlikely to grant New York that request.

New York could conceivably still make New Orleans a competitive offer without giving up Porzingis, though that would depend on what happens in May’s draft lottery. Through 50 games, the Knicks have a 14 percent chance of landing the No.1 overall pick. Duke’s Zion Williamson is expected to be the first player drafted, and he’s probably a more valuable asset than anything the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers or any other suitor would offer to the Pelicans.

Part of the reason why New Orleans might wait until the summer to trade Davis would be so they can see where the Knicks end up in the lottery.

No one knows exactly what the Knicks would do with the No.1 pick. There’s a good chance they wouldn’t even make the selection available to the Pelicans, considering Williamson is the most hyped prospect since Davis entered the league seven years ago.

Maybe Porzingis would OK a deal to the Pelicans. ESPN reported Thursday afternoon that the 23-year-old had a meeting with Knicks’ management to express his concerns with the direction in which the team is heading.

Porzingis hasn’t played in nearly a year since tearing his ACL. He made the All-Star team last year before getting hurt, averaging a career-high 22.7 points per game.

It’s unlikely that Porzingis won’t sign an extension with the Knicks this summer if he isn’t traded. New York can offer him a $158 million contract and match any offer sheet that he’d get from other teams. If Porzingis wants to put off his free agency until 2020, he’d have to sign a one-year $4.5 million qualifying offer.

The Knicks own the NBA’s worst record at 10-40. They are well on their way to losing at least 50 games for a fifth straight season.

There is plenty of speculation that New York could sign Kevin Durant in free agency. Pairing Durant with either Davis or Porzingis could make the Knicks one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.