With a week left before the NBA's trade deadline, the New York Knicks have reportedly agreed to trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in a six player blockbuster.
First reported by the New York Times and ESPN, the Knicks will send Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Courtney Lee to Dallas for Dennis Smith Jr, Wesley Matthews, and DeAndre Jordan.
ESPN reported earlier Thursday that Porzingis, who hasn't played this season due to a torn ACL suffered February 6, met with Knicks management and left the impression that he wanted to be traded before becoming a restricted free agent this summer. The fourth pick of the 2015 draft has averaged 17.8 points per game in his career, shooting 36 percent from behind the 3-point line.
By trading Lee and Hardaway, the Knicks erase two large salaries in their hopes of landing star free agents in July. They could have space to sign two max players. Jordan and Matthews are expected to be traded before the deadline or bought out.
Smith has been rumored in trades the past few weeks, missing six games after leaving the team. Dallas selected him with the ninth pick of last year's draft, but his role decreased with the emergence of Luka Doncic.