The Knicks and team president Phil Jackson have "mutually agreed to part company," the team announced Wednesday morning.
Knicks owner James Dolan bought out the two years and $24 million remaining on Jackson's contract, reports Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News.
Bondy notes that the decision to part ways with Jackson was partly due to the feuds Jackson was having with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
Since the news of the Knicks possibly trading away F Kristaps Porzingis surfaced, teams have taken to social media to recruit the young star, per NY Post's Jaclyn Hendricks.
The latest stems from Mallory Edens, the daughter of Bucks' owner Wes Edens, as she hilariously referenced Porzingis' "unicorn" nickname.
In a separate Tweet, she told Porzingis, "we got a plane heading from NYC to MKE tmrw afternoon if u need a ride."
Knicks president Phil Jackson has not ruled out the possibility of trading F Kristaps Porzingis, and many teams are interested, per The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.
In talks with the Suns about Porzingis, the Knicks have expressed interest in acquiring either Devin Booker or Marquese Chriss and the fourth overall pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft, according to Yahoo! Sports, though Phoenix is not interested in dealing either Booker or Chriss.
Jackson had said trading Porzingis was "off the table" already this offseason, but clearly that isn't the case. According to ESPN's Ian Begley, Porzingis' brother, Janis, says the New York star wants to stay with the Knicks and will play out his contract. If he is traded, though, he will explore free agency.
The Knicks continue to keep a close eye on top draft prospect, Kentucky PG De'Aaron Fox, according to Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News.
Knicks personnel, along with Phil Jackson, were in attendance to watch Fox and other prospects at a Pro Day in Los Angeles Saturday. Associate head coach Kurt Rambis was also in the Knicks camp.
Fox is predicted to be taken in the top five at the June 22 draft at the Barclays Center. With the Knicks owning the eighth overall pick, it is highly unlikely Fox falls into their hands. However, young guard is keen on playing with Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis.
Knicks F Kristaps Porzingis posted workout videos to his Twitter account as he continued his offseason training.
Porzingis, 21, trained earlier this offseason by boxing.
"I'll be doing a little bit of something I haven't done before that's not attached to basketball maybe that will help my game," Porzingis told reporters. "I'll experiment a bit over the summer."
In an offseason in which the New York Knicks will keep player development coach Dave Bliss and part ways with assistant Josh Longstaff, team president Phil Jackson remains confident in Clarence Gaines Jr., vice president of player personnel.
"Phil has a small circle of friends,'' Walter Perrin, vice president of player personnel for the Utah Jazz, said, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. "He has a sense of loyalty to him, someone he's felt comfortable working with in the past.''
Gaines joined Jackson's staff three summers ago, where he started as an adviser and played a big role in the team drafting Kristaps Porzingis in 2015, according to Berman.
In the latest installment of JR Sport Brief on SNY.tv, JR finds no winners in the battle between Kristaps Porzingis and Phil Jackson.
The Knicks will keep player development coach Dave Bliss on staff for next season, according to the NY Daily News.
Bliss has received high praise from Kristaps Porzingis as the two have worked exclusively on improving his toughness and physicality in the post.
"He's big and phyiscal with me," Kristaps said to Bleacher Report last season, "and that's been the toughest thing for me to deal with since coming into the league, so we work on that every, but he's also always talking to me, giving me advice."
This news came hours after it was said the Knicks wouldn't renew the contract of assistant Josh Longstaff, who was also a favorite of Porzingis. Longstaff flew overseas to work with him last offseason, and the Knicks' star requested to have him on the Latvian national team staff for the European championships this summer.
The New York Knicks parted ways with assistant coach Josh Longstaff, according to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.
Longstaff, 34, joined the Knicks in September 2014. was considered one of the hardest-working members on the Knicks staff, a source told Bondy.
Among his responsibilities included developing young players who would be used in New York's rotation, notably Willy Hernangomez, Ron Baker, Lance Thomas and Langston Galloway, according to Bondy.
Last summer, he spent time with Kristaps Porzingis in Latvia to help him work on his game. Longstaff was Porzingis' favorite assistant coach, according to Bondy.
A recent meeting between Kristaps Porzingis' brother, Janis, and Knicks president Phil Jackson did not end very well, according to the New York Daily News.
Janis represents Kristaps, who is currently overseas. The two sides met after Porzingis missed his exit meeting last month, and a team source told the Daily News that Jackson is remaining "steadfast in his ways and direction."
Janis told ESPN earlier this month that his brother feels at home in New York and wants to remain there.
Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek said on Thursday that there is no doubt in his mind that Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis will remain with the team, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday.
Earlier this week Porzingis' brother, Janis, told ESPN that the Knicks star wants to stay but also wants the team to focus on winning and player development.
According to ESPN, Porzingis missed exit meetings following the season and was reportedly frustrated over dysfunction on the Knicks, who ended this past season with a 31-51 mark.
In the debut of JR Sports Brief on SNY.tv, JR dishes on Kristaps Porzingis' tweet, Melo's issues, and the one guy who could help the Knicks.
A tweet was released from Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis' twitter account on Saturday night that referenced the Los Angeles Clippers. The post said "LA Clippers" with three smiley faces and it was deleted shortly thereafter hitting the web.
According to the New York Post, Porzingis doesn't always post his tweets personally, leaving open the possibility that he was hacked.
A rep for Porzingis told ESPN's Ian Begley that Porzingis was sleeping when the tweet was published and his account was hacked...
The Knicks received possible trade calls from teams around the NBA days after forward Kristaps Porzingis skipped his post-season exit meeting with President Phil Jackson and General Manager Steve Mills, according to a report from Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
Porzingis has been frustrated with the direction the franchise is headed in and according to ESPN, is not pleased with the drama and dysfunction surrounding the organization.
Frank Ntilikina of Strasbourg and former UCLA guard Lonzo Ball are among the NBA prospects who were invited to the NBA combine but will not attend, according to DraftExpress.
There are 66 players who are attending the combine, including Malik Monk and Markelle Fultz, who is widely considered the draft's top prospect.
Ntilikina, a 6-foot-5 point guard, is 18 years old and has averaged 5.2 points, 1.2 assists and 17.5 minutes in 27 games for Strasbourg International.
The Knicks will enter the offseason with upwards of $20 million in cap space to pursue free agents, and with the likely departure of Carmelo Anthony, New York will certainly have some holes to fill.
One potential target is Washington's Otto Porter, who averaged 13.4 points on 51.6 percent shooting to go with 6.4 rebounds, all career-highs, and 1.5 assists in 80 games this season. Porter also showed his ability to shoot from long range by going 43.4 percent from the three-point line, another career-best.
Many believe Porter, who is a restricted free agent, will sign a max contract this summer, which could be worth up to $128.2 million over five years.
Another potential Knicks' targert is Chicago's Michael Carter-Williams, who will also be a restricted free agent.
Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis announced he will play for the Latvian national team during this summer's European championships, but did not clear it with the New York organization beforehand, according to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.
"Kristaps is in a position to decide for himself on playing for the national side," Porzingis' older brother and agent, Janis, said in Latvian, according to a transcript, when the 21-year-old Knicks forward was asked about New York's role in determining his status for the European championships.
Porzingis, who skipped his exit meeting with president Phil Jackson due to his reported displeasure with the team's handling of Carmelo Anthony, has not spoken with the team since. However, he expressed his will to be a Knick both in the short- and long-term future.
"My next focus is national team,'' Porzingis said, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. "My third season is still far away. The main thing is to put in a lot of work during the summer to be ready, first for national team, then for next season. The European championships ends before the official NBA camp starts, so I have enough time to turn back to New York. I'll be there on time."
While he loves New York, Kristaps Porzingis made it clear that being in a situation that gives him a chance to win will be the most important factor for the Latvian star when deciding whether or not to re-sign with the Knicks in two years.
"Absolutely, I want to stay here all my career,'' Porzingis said about re-signing in New York, according to the English translation provided by Sporta Avize, a Latvian sports magazine. "But the thing I want most of all is winning. When the time comes, I will seriously start to think about it. Right now I just try to do my best."
Sources say Porzingis is unhappy with Phil Jackson's treatment of Carmelo Anthony. When asked about Anthony's situation with the team, the 21-year old said the media helped exaggerate the tension between Jackson and the veteran forward.
On the final episode of TheKnicksBlog Podcast, Anthony Donahue and Moke Hamilton run the gamut on everything going down with the Knicks. The guys discuss Phil Jackson's struggles running the organization, Carmelo Anthony's future, Kristaps Porzingis' refusal to meet with the front office, the NBA Draft, and free agency.
Kristaps Porzingis says he loves New York and still wants to be a member of the Knicks, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Porzingis will leave for Latvia on Thursday without meeting with Phil Jackson, but said blowing off his exit interview is not a sign that he doesn't want to play at Madison Square Garden next year.
"Of course," Porzingis said when asked if he wants to be a Knick next season. "I love New York. I love New York."
According to Berman, New York was not given an explanation behind the 21-year old Latvian's decision to skip the scheduled meeting with Jackson on Friday. But sources say that Porzingis is upset with the way the franchise has been run, with Jackson's poor handling of Carmelo Anthony and going all-in on the triangle offense.
Keith Schlosser, SNY.TV Twitter | Archive
On Friday, Phil Jackson dismissed the notion that his treatment of and the drama surrounding the Carmelo Anthony situation would impact his reputation or hurt the Knicks' chances with forthcoming free agents.
Prior to that happening, though, Kristaps Porzingis had reportedly skipped out on his exit meeting. Following Jackson's comments, Michelle Roberts of the NBPA released a statement calling Jackson's remarks about Anthony "inappropriate."
At 21 years old, Porzingis may have jumped the gun by being insubordinate. There are other ways to express a feeling or send a message. Nevertheless, what the young gun did was bold. In a way, his actions were an opportunity to stand up for Anthony...
Keith Schlosser, SNY.tv: Kristaps Porzingis reportedly skipped out on his exit meeting with Knicks' brass, which isn't something one would expect the leader of a team to do. The man otherwise known as the "unicorn" may already be considered the forthcoming savior by some, but Phil Jackson doesn't believe he's ready to carry the Knicks just yet.
"No I don't. He's 21 years old. That's a big load for anyone to take on," the executive said when asked if Porzingis was ready to be New York's number one option.
Such a question was posed after Jackson revealed he will look to trade Carmelo Anthony and that the forward would be "better off somewhere else."
Frustration is mounting surrounding the disarray this team is in, which would appear to explain Porzingis' absence. With Jackson ready to continue exploring deals for Anthony, it would make sense for the Knicks to go back to basics and begin building from scratch, save for say, Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, and a few complementary role players. During this transition and Anthony's expected departure, Porzingis could be embraced and groomed as the starring attraction New York needs.
Kristaps Porzingis declined to attend team exit meetings at the conclusion of the New York Knicks season, Ian Begley of ESPN reported on Friday night.
Citing team sources, Begley says that the two-year veteran and former first round selection is frustrated with the team's lack of direction. The Knicks failed to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season and only notched a 30-51 record.
University of Washington guard Markelle Fultz said it would be "amazing" if the New York Knicks were to draft him in June.
"It's close to home, my family can come out. This is the greatest place to play, really," Fultz told the New York Post's Zach Braziller while watching Sunday's Knicks-Raptors game. "Big [arena], a lot of good fans. ... This is a legendary place."
Fultz, who is considered to be one of the top picks come June, averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 25 games as an 18-year-old freshman for the Huskies.
Without Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony and (unexpectedly) Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks could only muster three quarters of contention and fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 88-101.
Despite lacking all of it's starpower, New York kept it close for the majority of the game. However, the playoff-bound Grizzlies began to pull away in the game's final stage.
Kristaps Porzingis offered a blunt assessment of the Knicks' season on Thursday, saying the team "didn't do it from the beginning the right way."
The 21-year-old noted that a lack of fundamentals was a key reason for the Knicks' struggles this season. "We didn't have real fundamentals as a team," Porzingis said. "I think from the beginning, it worked for us because we played based off our talent and based off of good energy, and once things got a little tougher, we just didn't have the fundamentals as well."
Porzingis also responded to head coach Jeff Hornacek's comment that the club would work on fundamentals in training camp later this year.
Jeff Hornacek hinted to reporters on Monday that the Knicks will be working on upgrading their defense during the offseason.
"I think if you look at our defense this year, we can use some more defensive players," Hornacek told Ian Begley of ESPN. "[Management] will look at that. [General manager] Steve [Mills] and [president] Phil [Jackson] and those guys will look at whatever can help us out. We know we need some help there."
New York has been in the bottom third of the NBA on defense throughout the entire season, which was a significant factor in the team missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season. However the Knicks will have a top-10 pick in this year's draft, and can have nearly $25 million in cap space to spend in free agency, depending on their decision on the future of Derrick Rose with the franchise.
Derrick Rose scored 27 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 25 and the New York Knicks handed the Detroit Pistons another damaging defeat with a 109-95 victory Monday night.
Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence due to a sore left knee and added 21 as the Knicks snapped a five-game losing streak and avoided playoff elimination.
Marcus Morris scored 20 points but Detroit dropped its fourth straight and fell 1 1/2 games behind Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ish Smith had 15 points while former starting point guard Reggie Jackson didn't play.
Knicks C Willy Hernangomez has been a soild offensive contributor but knows he needs to improve defensively.
"I have to be way more focused on defense," Hernangomez said Saturday, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. "I think from the beginning of the season right now I improved my defense, but it's not enough. One of the biggest things I have to work this summer is going to be my defense so next year I can defend [centers] and [power forwards]."
Hernangomez scored a career-high 24 points on Saturday while grabbing 13 rebounds in 36 minutes. He is averaging 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 63 games this season, during what is his rookie campaign.
Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek said Hernangomez needs to be more assertive, citing a couple of plays from Saturday night's game...
With the NBA Draft just a few months away, the Knicks are reportedly interested in drafting Kansas combo forward Josh Jackson, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
While this year's draft is considered to be one of the best point guard drafts in years, the Knicks have identified Jackson as a player with a triangle skill set because of his superb passing ability.
The Knicks could also use Jackson as a potential replacement for Carmelo Anthony should the team decide to trade their star player this offseason.
The Knicks continue their road trip with a matchup against the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on Thursday night at 10 p.m.
According to STATS:
Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek said he isn't sure whether the current roster can work within the Triangle and get the team to the playoffs next season.
"You never know how these things will fit," he said, according to the NY Post. "Maybe a second year is helpful for us. I thought we got off to a decent start this year, then we had little injuries and lost close games and it piled on in confidence, got a little out of control. I don't know. It's something we're going to really look at.''
Hornacek added that his idea of injecting a more modern system to go along with the Triangle wasn't the best, and that he isn't sure which players should remain when the team implements the more classic system.
Of the core players, the Knicks are expected to again explore a trade of Carmelo Anthony, and Derrick Rose will be a free agent.
Knicks F Carmelo Anthony sat out the entire fourth quarter on Monday night during the team's loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles.
"Coach is starting to realize - he mentioned today he's going to start shortening minutes,'' Anthony said, according to the NY Post. "I've been understanding with the situation. I understand.''
"All the young guys, it's an opportunity to get that experience instead of getting practice experience, individual workouts - actually getting it live and direct in a game against top-level opponents," Anthony continued. "It's best to take advantage of that and for me to help them.''
Jeff Hornacek agreed with Kristaps Porzingis' notion from last week that the Knicks did not play like a team this season, and felt that the team's downfall was because his players were not unselfish enough on the offensive end.
"You see teams - open guys always end up with the ball,'' Hornacek told Marc Berman of the New York Post at Monday's morning shootaround before the Knicks faced the Clippers at Staples Center. "Here we do it in spurts. Then we have spurts where it sticks. One guy will take a shot that maybe he can move it on for a better shot. That's probably the biggest key is we get the good shots. We don't get the great shots. If we make one extra, we'll get a great shot. You see the good teams out there, they pass it up for better ones.''
Hornacek hinted that the offensive skill level of New York's trio - Porzingis, Carmelo Anthony, and Derrick Rose - may have acted as a double-edged sword, as it led to them constantly looking to take shots instead of making the extra pass.
Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick Rose each scored 18 points, but it wasn't enough as the Knicks lost in blowout fashion to the Los Angeles Clippers, 114-105, on Monday night at the Staples Center.
Porzingis also had 11 rebounds and two steals to complete a double-double. Carmelo Anthony notched 16 points to go along with four rebounds. Ron Baker impressed with eight points and two steals in 20 minutes played, while Justin Holiday continued his good play of late with a 11-point performance.
The Knicks were outscored, 34-19, in the third quarter as the Clippers' bigs caused problems down low. Blake Griffin finished with 30 points and six rebounds. >> Read more...
Brook Lopez scored a game-high 24 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Nets defeated the Knicks for the second time in five days, 121-110, Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Brooklyn defeated New York 120-112 on Sunday at the Barclays Center.
The Nets trailed by seven at halftime and were down 67-58 with 9:53 left in the third. Brooklyn finished the third quarter on a 34-20 run to take a 92-87 lead into the final period.
Knicks F Kristaps Porzingis will miss the Knicks' game against the Nets on Thursday night with a left thigh contusion.
The 21-year-old suffered the injury during Tuesday's win over the Pacers.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek predicted that Porzingis would return when the team begins a West Coast trip on Monday against the Clippers.
Porzingis is averaging 18 points and 7.2 rebounds in 58 games this season.
The Knicks host the Nets at Madison Square Garden tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
According to STATS:
9:10AM: Despite all of the issues the Knicks have dealt with this season, along with the team's brutal record, Phil Jackson will not fire Jeff Hornacek, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
According to Berman's source, Jackson "can't afford to fire" Hornacek and hire a new coach.
Hornacek has done well in communicating and maintaining a strong rapport with Jackson and associate head coach Kurt Rambis, something Derek Fisher was unable to do which eventually led to his dismissal.
Knicks F Kristaps Porzingis missed the team's practice on Wednesday after suffering a deep thigh bruise, the club said.
Porzingis sustained a contusion to his left thigh after running into the Pacers' Monta Ellis during the Knicks' 87-81 win at the Garden Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old scored 11 points in 24 minutes prior to leaving the game.
Kristaps Porzingis said he still plans on working out with Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, reports Marc Berman of the NY Post.
Porzingis has often had his style of play compared to that of Nowitzki.
"I'm sure it will help me out and improve my game, hopefully, unless Mark Cuban says no,''Porzingis said. "Dirk is a guy who can really help my game. Hopefully I'll have a chance to work with him, a few days to get on the court with him and pick his brain."
Keith Schlosser, SNY.TV Twitter | Archive
At this point in the year, Knicks basketball is difficult to watch. The team doesn't appear to know which direction they are headed. Built like a squad hoping to compete sooner than later, the failures are abound.
However, the front office simply cannot afford to change this roster around yet again. There will be returning pieces, and New York should use the rest of the season as a trial period for those who intrigue them. They should prepare for next season so they can move away from this one's struggles.
After fouling out late in the fourth quarter of New York's 120-112 loss to the Nets, Kristaps Porzingis noted "confusion" on both ends of the court as a big factor towards the team's recent struggles.
"There's a lot of confusion," Porzingis told Marc Berman of the New York Post. "A lot of times it's basically one-on-one. Whoever, me, myself, Carmelo [Anthony], Courtney [Lee], we try to make something happen, and that's not how it's supposed to be."
The Knicks fell to 26-41 and a season-worst 15 games under .500 on Sunday, clinching its fourth consecutive non-winning season.
"We've been switching things up because never at any point this season, we played like we wanted to," said Porzingis. "Maybe this will work. So we are looking for stuff. The coaching staff obviously is trying to do the best job they can to give us the information, but we never got it all together."
Courtney Lee scored 18 points, Lance Thomas added 17 and the New York Knicks used a big fourth quarter to rally past the Orlando Magic, 113-105 on Monday night.
Willy Hernangomez had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Kristaps Porzingis scored 14 points for the Knicks, who stopped a two-game losing streak. Kyle O'Quinn sparked the comeback with 11 points and eight rebounds, all in the fourth quarter.
Elfrid Payton had his first triple-double of the season with 16 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds. Evan Fournier led Orlando with 25 points and Aaron Gordon had 17 in the Magic's third loss in four games.
New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose is playing through an eye issue after injuring it in Sunday's game against the Golden State Warriors, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman.
Rose said he had blurry vision and a headache in Sunday's loss and saw a specialist after the game when it swelled, according to Berman.
The injury occurred when teammate Kristaps Porzingis elbowed him.
Effort was not the problem for the Orlando Magic in their 101-90 loss to the New York Knicks last Wednesday. Something else was off about the team.
With three days at home between their last game -- a stellar 18-point win over the Atlanta Hawks -- the Knicks seemed poised to build some positive momentum. Then the Knicks came and seemed to pull the rug from underneath them in a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
What seemed like a turning point for the Knicks last week has instead become a blip on an otherwise difficult season. New York hopes a return to Orlando on Monday at the Amway Center can get the team back on the right track.
Keith Schlosser, SNY.tv
With the release of Brandon Jennings and a likely season-ending injury to Joakim Noah, Knicks have a newfound freedom to explore what this team could be like next season. There's room to acquire somewhat of a taste. Noah figures to be around, but his inability to play big minutes leaves a question mark around his pending impact. As for Jennings, New York had seen enough after signing him to a one-year deal. This simply wasn't the right fit for him.
Win or lose, New York needs to continue examining which of their already in place pieces are worth keeping moving forward. That's what the next month plus should be about. There's an opportunity to answer questions regarding the future. Will this stay of execution past the trade deadline prove Carmelo Anthony can take somewhat of a backseat and play a supporting role to Kristaps Porzingis? Derrick Rose still leaves something to be desired on the court, but does do some positive things. Can he still fit and be retained at a reasonable price this offseason? Which of the team's youngsters have the potential to flourish in an expanded roles? Here's a look at some opportunities that could prove to be small stepping stones for this team as they plan ahead.
Balanced point guard play: With Jennings in town, the Knicks had two offensively minded floor generals who both looked to score. He and Derrick Rose simply weren't the best match, despite how talented each one was.
Stephen Curry broke out of a shooting slump with 31 points and moved into the top 10 on the NBA's career 3-point list, and the Golden State Warriors bounced back from consecutive losses to beat the New York Knicks 112-105 on Sunday.
Klay Thompson added 29 points to help the Warriors end their first regular-season losing streak in nearly two years.
The Splash Brothers had dried up as Golden State dropped two in row following Kevin Durant's knee injury, but they regained their touch Sunday. Curry hit five 3-pointers, passing Chauncey Billups for 10th place, and added eight rebounds and six assists.
