New York Knicks listening to trade offers for Kristaps Porzingis

New York Knicks center Kristaps Porzingis is being discussed in trades, two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt.

Both people requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

One executive described the Knicks’ asking price as “very aggressive” in shopping Porzingis, who’s about to enter his third year in the league. Porzingis averaged 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds last season for the underachieving Knicks.

Another person with knowledge of a potential Porzingis trade characterized the situation as job preservation for the front office, which is struggling to make the Knicks a playoff team. Phil Jackson has been unable to turn the team around since becoming team president in 2014. 

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Outside of teammates, Porzingis hasn’t been in touch with anyone from the Knicks organization this offseason, according to ESPN.

If the Knicks do indeed trade Porzingis, one replacement could be Arizona big man Lauri Markkanen, who met with Jackson in New York on Monday, according to Bleacher Report. 

The Knicks have the No. 8 pick in Thursday's draft. 

Porzingis skipped his end of season meetings with Jackson and GM Steve Mills due to frustration over the constant drama and scrutiny surrounding the Knicks.

“Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York,” Janis Porzingis, Kristaps’ brother, told ESPN.

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