Kristaps Porzingis is receiving his max deal.
The former Knicks forward who was traded to Dallas Mavericks in the winter agreed to re-sign a five-year, $158 million max contract, the New York Times' Marc Stein reports.
Though he hasn't played in a game since Feb. 6, 2018, due to a torn ACL, Porzingis' contract is fully guaranteed and does not contain any protection for injuries, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
Porzingis, 23, gave the Knicks an ultimatum in January, saying he would return to Europe if he was not traded, Knicks president Steve Mills said in May.
"When he walked into our office -- my office and (GM) Scott (Perry) was sitting there with me -- and point blank said to us, 'I don't want to be here, I'm not going to re-sign with the Knicks, and I'll give you seven days to try and trade me or I'm going back to Europe,'" Mills said.
The trade, which also sent Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to the Mavericks, gave the Knicks enough salary cap space this summer to sign two players to max contracts, however the Knicks have struck out so far, losing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets.
New York also received Dennis Smith Jr. (still an active Knick), Wesley Matthews (waived) and DeAndre Jordan (to sign with the Nets this offseason) in the trade, as well as two future first-round picks.
The No. 4 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, Porzingis averaged 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in 186 career games with New York. Before he tore his ACL in February 2018, he was averaging a career-high 22.7 points and was selected to his first All-Star Game.
His tenure in New York saw four different head coaches -- Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis, Jeff Hornacek and David Fizdale -- and was mired with controversy, including him skipping his exit interview with Phil Jackson at the end of the 2017 season.
The 7-foot-3 Porzingis was also eligible for a $4.5 million qualifying offer with zero guaranteed money. Instead, he gets the max deal he coveted.