Kristaps Porzingis says New York is ‘home now,’ but the Knicks are still on the clock

After a two-month stretch where Kristaps Porzingis wanted absolutely nothing to do with the New York Knicks, the franchise centerpiece told NBA.com’s Shaun Powell he wants to come back, win games, and focus on a place he calls home.

“So far it’s been tough in New York, but my journey is only beginning and I hope to stay there my whole career, so as a city we can have some fun and win some games and do something big,” he said in Johannesburg, South Africa during his prep for the NBA’s Africa Game on Sunday.

“For me, it’s now home.”

Porzingis’ commitment to the Knicks seemed to waver after Phil Jackson’s exit tour included ushering a frustrating midseason shift to the Triangle Offense, publicly bashing Carmelo Anthony, and eventually fielding trade calls on the 7’3” Latvian shooter. Porzingis even skipped out on his end-of-the-year exit interview with Jackson and spent much of the summer overseas, reportedly ignoring Knicks officials’ attempts to get in contact with him.

Jackson and the Knicks, however, abruptly parted ways this summer, giving Knicks fans optimism that the bridge could be rebuilt. New Knicks president Steve Mills said he had a good “texting relationship” with Porzingis, and New York’s hiring of Scott Perry as GM has refocused the team on establishing a hardworking culture around a young, athletic core.

The Knicks will likely move Anthony this summer. It’s more a matter of when and where, and much less an if. When he’s traded, the keys will be handed to Porzingis, who averaged 18 points, 7.2 rebounds, and two blocks per game as a sophomore last season.

Porzingis has said multiple times that he wants to win in New York, citing it as a legendary accomplishment to potentially bring a championship to the country’s largest market. If you ask his teammate Mindaugas Kuzminskas, that answer has never changed.

“I don’t think it was something personal against the club,’’ Kuzminskas said, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. “If there [were] some problems I think they solved everything. No doubt he wants to be a Knick and he’s said that.’’

Many of Porzingis’ issues with the organization stemmed from Jackson’s heavy-handedness. The hope is that they ended with his departure and Perry’s arrival.

The stretch shooter didn’t exactly pledge allegiance to the organization throughout the rest of the interview. Jackson may be gone, but the after effects could linger beyond his leave. Porzingis wants to see what has really changed throughout the organization when he returns to the states this summer.

“For everybody, a lot of things were surprising and a lot of things were unexpected,” he told Powell. “We’ll see when I get there and start working out with the guys. We’ll see what has changed. It’s hard to say with everything going on in New York, but once I get there I’ll see things more clearer.”

In the short term, New York doesn’t have to worry. Porzingis is still on his rookie contract with a lucrative extension looming in 2019. Young players rarely, if ever, turn down their first massive extension, and regardless, he’ll be a restricted free agent, meaning the Knicks will be able to match any competing offer if Porzingis hits the market in two summers.

But Porzingis isn’t a short-term talent. He’s one of the most unique basketball talents the league has to offer and just worked out with Dirk Nowitzki on Thursday. And if he really wanted to, he could accept New York’s qualifying offer in 2020 to become an unrestricted free agent and skate town.

So while the Knicks have time to make good with their star, they had better show some improvement, and fast. Because if Porzingis really wants to, he can leave, and there won’t be much New York can do about it.