Report: Knicks afraid of Kristaps Porzingis rebelling, hurting team’s image

Phil Jackson’s willingness to trade Kristaps Porzingis seemingly has little to do with the former first-round pick’s game and everything to do with his attitude toward the team.

Porzingis skipped his exit meeting with the New York Knicks after the season, and his brother and agent Janis Porzingis recently said Kristaps does not want to be traded “despite how the Knicks are treating their players.” According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, remarks like that are why Jackson is trying to determine if dealing Porzingis is the only option.

A source told Berman that Jackson could still look to trade Porzingis in the coming months if the relationship between the 21-year-old and the team shows no signs of improvement. Jackson reportedly viewed Porzingis’ decision to skip his exit interview as an “act of insubordination” and is concerned about eventually signing the 7-foot-3 forward to an extension if there isn’t a level of mutual respect.