LaMarcus Aldridge

Knicks didn't care about signing LaMarcus Aldridge because of Kristaps Porzingis

Published Aug. 12, 2015 1:55 p.m. ET

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The Knicks have had an offseason that's clearly more forward-looking than anyone expected them to have. They signed guys like Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo to reasonable and relatively fiscal contracts. They brought Kyle O'Quinn in to be a third big man on a very cheap deal.

It all seemed to make sense, even though the team didn't land a star. Realistically, though, what 17-win team is able to land a star...ever?

That's part of why LaMarcus Aldridge didn't want to sign with New York—and why he didn't even give the organization much of a shot. But now, we're learning the decision to let Aldridge walk was somewhat mutual.

From Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

Aldridge eventually left the Trail Blazers to sign with the Spurs.

Well, this is interesting. We already knew the Knicks didn't want Aldridge because of his aversion to playing center. It made sense that would be because of their long-term investment in Porzingis.

The Knicks are thinking about down-the-line teams, not necessarily the one in 2015-16. The organization is getting—dare I say it?—calculated. Smart, even? OK, let's not go that far. But they're operating like a real team. That's a nice step up from what's happened in past years.

(h/t New York Daily News)

“They were saying they wanted me to be more of a center to let their guy develop and I just wasn't looking to be that,” Aldridge said. “So I was looking to play power forward, and they weren't really interested.”

By ‘their guy,' Aldridge was referring to fourth overall pick Porzingis, the 7-foot-3, 19-year-old Latvian slotted for time at power forward. Aldridge, who has played power forward for most of his career, would eat up the minutes at that position and perhaps hinder Porzingis' development.

“If they're going to tell me that I have to play center and I don't want to play center, then of course it's mutual after that. But before that I was excited to meet with them. I was interested,” Aldridge said. “But they wanted to have their draft pick play and I get it.”

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