New York Knicks Trade Rumors: Kristaps Porzingis In A Possible Deal For A Guard?

The New York Knicks are reportedly weighing trade offers for Kristaps Porzingis with the interest of landing a guard. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical, team president Phil Jackson is considering drafting a big man with the No. 8 overall pick in Thursday's draft as teams show interest in the 21-year-old Latvian.

League sources also told the Vertical that Jackson had a meeting Monday night with Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen. Jackson may be looking to swap out Porzingis and supplanting him with Markkanen, a 7-foot forward from Finland who has a solid jump shot.

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Jackson raised eyebrows in 2015 by drafting Porzingis with the Knicks' No. 4 overall pick. Knicks fans expressed their disdain for the pick as many in attendance heckled when the then-little-known player made his way to the stage. However, Porzingis exceeded expectations almost immediately, averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in his rookie season, and then averaging 18.1 and 7.2 rebounds in his second season.

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Unless the Knicks are well compensated for Porzingis, dealing away the 7-foot-3 power forward could prove to be a polarizing decision. Wojnarowski pointed out that the Knicks' accepting offers "has been met with bewilderment by rival executives eager to make a deal with New York."

There has been some unwanted attention surrounding the club and Porzingis in recent months. Reports surfaced that no member of the Knicks staff had heard from Porzingis since he decided to skip exit meetings. According to reports, Porzingis was dissatisfied with the team’s direction.

Porzingis later announced that he planned to play for Latvia in the EuroBasket 2017 competition without receiving approval from the Knicks.

"Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York. He loves the city, and he loves the fans, and he wants to win with this team," Porzingis' brother Janis Porzingis told ESPN. "If he's going to be traded, he's going to play out his contract and decide his future on his own."

The Knicks hold Porzingis' rights for at least two more seasons. Porzingis is set to earn $4.5 million next season and $5.6 million in 2018-19.

Since joining the Knicks in March 2014, the Knicks have failed to finish with a .500 record and have not reached the postseason since 2013.