Kristaps Porzingis demanded a trade from the Knicks
Kristaps Porzingis completed a stunning trade to the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the February trade deadline. The 23-year-old was sent to Dallas in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and Wesley Matthews, and due to the suddenness of the deal, many believed that Porzingis had demanded to be traded.
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Speaking at an event on Wednesday, Knicks president Steve Mills confirmed Porzingis' desire to leave, saying that the center had threatened to return to Europe:
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[Porzingis] point-blank said to us, 'I don't want to be here. [He said] I'm not going to re-sign with the Knicks and I'm going to give you seven days to trade me, or I'm going back to Europe. Fortunately for us, through that process we [started] in September, we had a number of deals lined up, and we started the trade calls as soon as he walked out of the office.
Porzingis has yet to make an appearance for the Mavericks, although he hopes to return in time for the start of the 19/20 season.
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