His brothers are playing a dangerous game given that KP is still yet to have cemented his credentials as an NBA star. Also to presume that they know better than the Knicks organization how to handle KP's career. I think Janis was really upset with how Rose didn't feed KP the ball. Perhaps other things as well. Thing crazy thing is that KP said he likes the Triangle and he really didn't blame Jeff for the issues. I have to think this is really coming from his brothers more than KP really being upset personally. You didn't see ANY signs of KP being upset in the final games he played. KP played well he and his young teammates played hard and had fun! It was actually a pretty uplifting end given how disappointing the season was.

Brother: If Kristaps Porzingis traded, he'd then test free agency
10:32 PM ET
Ian Begley
ESPN Staff Writer

Kristaps Porzingis' brother, Janis Porzingis, says the Knicks forward wants to remain in New York but also wants the club to create an environment conducive to player development and winning.

Porzingis' brother made it clear that if traded, Kristaps Porzingis intends to play out his contract and test free agency.

"Kris wants to stay in New York, he feels at home there. There is no question about it. The only thing he wants is for the Knicks to create an environment where he can develop and grow as a player and win," Janis Porzingis said in an interview with ESPN. "If he were traded he would play out his contract and head into free agency where he can choose his own destiny."

Janis Porzingis, a certified agent, works for the agency of Andy Miller, who is Kristaps Porzingis' agent.

Several teams reached out to the Knicks to talk about possible trades for Porzingis in the days after he skipped his exit meeting with team president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills, league sources previously said.

It is unclear whether the discussions led to substantial trade parameters. Teams were inquiring about trading for Porzingis, 21, after he showed his frustration with the direction of the franchise by skipping the meeting.

Porzingis had been frustrated by the drama and dysfunction surrounding the team this season, according to team sources. Janis Porzingis declined to comment on the rationale behind Kristaps skipping exit meetings.

The Knicks have lost a total of 101 games in Porzingis' first two seasons in the NBA. After a February loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Porzingis discussed some of his frustration with the club.

Kristaps Porzingis hasn't spoken with the Knicks since skipping an exit meeting with team management following the conclusion of the season.

He said there was confusion from "top to bottom" due to multiple changes in schemes by head coach Jeff Hornacek and the coaching staff over the course of the season. He added there was "a lot of stuff that's not clear" to players and that it was "hard to play like that."

New York was projected as a playoff team by some entering the 2016-17 season. But the Knicks struggled on both ends of the floor and finished with just 31 wins, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

It is unclear if Jackson is willing to trade Porzingis. It would likely take a significant offer to cause Jackson and the Knicks' hierarchy to move the 7-foot-3 forward.

At his season-ending news conference last month, Jackson was asked whether any personnel move, including a trade of Porzingis, is "off the table" this offseason. "Everything has got to be possible, and we have to make sure that if people have something to say, we listen to it, we examine it," Jackson said before complimenting Porzingis for his development this season.

Porzingis, entering his third season of a four-year contract, averaged 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds this season and is viewed by many around the league as a potential franchise cornerstone.

The Knicks can offer Porzingis a contract extension after next season. If no agreement is made next offseason, the Knicks can extend Porzingis a qualifying offer after the 2018-19 season, making him a restricted free agent. The qualifying offer would allow New York to match any offers Porzingis receives from other teams. If Porzingis doesn't sign another team's offer sheet in the summer of 2019 or chooses not to sign an extension with the Knicks, he probably would accept New York's qualifying offer for the 2019-20 season and become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2020.

His future with the club is less certain after the events of the last four weeks.

Porzingis hasn't spoken with the Knicks since skipping the exit meeting. He left for his home country late last month and plans to play for the Latvian national team in the European Championships this offseason.

Also, I thought it was Melo fought or that's what some fans said, regarding KP's actions.

First, this threat is empty. They have to give up a lot of money to do that, and it is not necessary better. (look Greg Monroe) Second, it looks like there is a power struggle behind the scene. We do not know what "environment" he talks about, and "win" is a empty word again. (or it just mean please do not tank)

Janis looks for something, but does not tell media/fans what it is, but still use media to give pressure to the management. He can keep it in a closed door but he goes to the media, the one probably hate Knicks very much nonetheless (ESPN), it means he is playing politics now. it is little sad to say but it is something similar to the school of Melo. People would never know what chips is on the table when Melo talked about it.

It is just like the situation of Lonzo and Lavar Ball. If a team drafts Lonzo Ball, it has to understand how to deal with his father. Knicks management has to seriously consider how to do with KP. It is very ironic that KP actually has the prefect attitude, the charisma to handle everything but his brother probably thinks he knows better. I have to say his brother is a negative, and it cannot be ignored.

People usually say it is all fine because knicks is bad. KP thus has the right to do everything. It is the surest way and the knicks way to create a monster. If this management cannot produce, it will be changed. Then what if KP and his brothers still pull off the same thing? It is okay you want something, but please make it clear what it is if you want to use media as your weapon. I really dislike this strategy because it means the player wants both ways. He pushes the team via media/fan but doesn't say what it is publicly (because he already told the management privately). In this way, he can paint himself as a victim of bad management and will not perceived as demanding diva.

I think having a team full of players that aren't resisting but are enthusiastic and giving max effort will make a huge impact. KP will fall in line along with everyone else. This should calm down.

ESOMKnicks wrote:I am yet to see a single piece of even the flimsiest evidence that Janis is giving KP bad advice. Yet it is being discussed here as if it were an established fact.

My two hypotheses: either (i) KP simply acted out immaturely, or (ii) he decided to skip the exit meeting, so that the Knicks wouldn't get a chance to ask KP not to play for Latvia, or do something else that KP may not be comfortable with doing in what is a pretty tense situation with the club, Phil, Melo, etc. MSG is a very toxic, political and treacherous environment after all.

I'm sorry what makes the Knicks desire to keep KP healthy "toxic, political, and treacherous"?

KP plays one of the most storied franchises in the history of the GAME. So he wants to be the King of Latvian futility? How is that even remotely sane? Whoever is advising this kid is the Latvian village idiot. He's driving straight into Darko territory with this nonsense. He's a serious injury away from being a doorstop.

KP needs to get in shape and actually have a season before lecturing the Knicks about creating a "winning" environment.

Vmart wrote:When players want to leave a situation they act and do just as KP is doing. The writing is on the wall he wants out.

KP isn't sophisticated enough to "act" in any predictable way. This is a kid surrounded by bad actors who think they're somebody by riding his coat-tails - his NBA "posse" who will steal his fortune and future if he doesn't get some professional guidance.

I don't think he wants out - I think he has a hard-on for power but doesn't know how to properly exercise it. Step one would be to arrange that exit interview with Phil.

fwk00 wrote:

Vmart wrote:When players want to leave a situation they act and do just as KP is doing. The writing is on the wall he wants out.

KP isn't sophisticated enough to "act" in any predictable way. This is a kid surrounded by bad actors who think they're somebody by riding his coat-tails - his NBA "posse" who will steal his fortune and future if he doesn't get some professional guidance.

I don't think he wants out - I think he has a hard-on for power but doesn't know how to properly exercise it. Step one would be to arrange that exit interview with Phil.

Do you contibute anything to this board other than disparaging comments about current players? Been trying to find something posted by you on another subject. Something basketball related.

Nalod wrote:

nixluva wrote:From my point of view Phil is already FIXING IT! This wasn't about the entire team. Certain players had issues but the majority seem to have tried to comply with Jeff and Phil's instructions. I can't ignore the much better body language with Jeff and the players once BJ was gone and Rose went down. Baker n Randle stepped in and BOUGHT IN. they made mistakes but they did execute the game plan much better.

I think having a team full of players that aren't resisting but are enthusiastic and giving max effort will make a huge impact. KP will fall in line along with everyone else. This should calm down.

Nix, I dig your positive spin and love, but This was less than a month ago that KP exhibited his defiance and its not that anyone has been negligent at all, its just not enough time.
Jenning and Rose fallen all happend before the season ended.

The fact is, we have no idea what KP's beef is. He might be pulling a diva act, or Phil is out of his mind and the team is a mess. KP did this before the Press conferance so we can't blame that.
KP was kept out of games and all the while was a big vocal about wanting to play.
Don't tell me what you feel, tell me what you know.

I'm stating what I've been able to see and can't speak on some mystery issue that seems to only have impact on KP. KP's last 3 games before tweaking his back were very strong and the team was still playing hard and responding to Jeff's coaching! The main incidents happened back in November when the team was 5-7 that's when the players called a meeting that Phil dropped in on!

According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Anthony feels good about the tone of the conversation and the potential implications of it.

“I thought the players did a great job of just kind of voicing their opinion on kind of where we want to be, what type of team we want to be, where we want to go and things that we want to see change,” Anthony said after leading the Knicks with 31 points.

“The conversation was a long conversation. I don’t want to go into details about what we spoke about, but my guys responded very well to what was said in that meeting. As you can see, it was a different focus, it was a different mindset, it was a different energy that we approached the game with.”

Asked if team president Phil Jackson intervened in any way, Anthony happily stated that The Zen Master remained silent and gave the players the floor.

“Nah, he actually just listened this time,” Anthony said, “which is good.”

The lines of communication seem to be open, which can only help the Knicks develop team chemistry.

“There comes a point and time throughout the season where you have to re-evaluate things and step out of the situation, look into the situation, see what you can do better, look in the mirror at each other, at yourself, and see the things you can improve,” Anthony said. “We did that yesterday and today.

“I don’t want to say we won today because of the meeting, but you clear the air like that and guys speak out and talk and they don’t have to hold it in. They don’t feel pressured in the open forum. Guys spoke and everybody responded.”

Kristaps Porzingis said of Saturday’s sit-down, “We talked a lot about what we want to do, how we want to be better. We had a good meeting. We talked a lot of stuff through. We came out today playing the way we need to be playing.”

GustavBahler wrote:

fwk00 wrote:

Vmart wrote:When players want to leave a situation they act and do just as KP is doing. The writing is on the wall he wants out.

KP isn't sophisticated enough to "act" in any predictable way. This is a kid surrounded by bad actors who think they're somebody by riding his coat-tails - his NBA "posse" who will steal his fortune and future if he doesn't get some professional guidance.

I don't think he wants out - I think he has a hard-on for power but doesn't know how to properly exercise it. Step one would be to arrange that exit interview with Phil.

Do you contibute anything to this board other than disparaging comments about current players? Been trying to find something posted by you on another subject. Something basketball related.