After coming over in a blockbuster deal from the New York Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis still has plenty of rehabilitation work to do before he suits up for the Dallas Mavericks.
Porzingis tore his ACL last February and it remained unclear whether he would appear in a game for the Knicks this season. Now with him in Dallas, Owner Mark Cuban told ESPN’s Tim McMahon that Porzingis ‘probably’ won’t play this season for the Mavs.
Kristaps Porzingis probably will not play for the Mavericks this season as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered a year ago, Dallas owner Mark Cuban told ESPN.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 1, 2019
Of course, this adds extra intrigue due to Porzingis’ contract situation. With the Latvian seven-footer expected not to suit up for Dallas this year, this means they will only have one season with the 23-year-old before he enters unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2020.
Still, Kristaps Porzingis should be fully healthy by the time next season commences, and those 82-games should be enough to determine how he fits into Dallas’ future plans alongside standout rookie Luka Doncic.
While the Mavs are probably eager to see their newly-acquired star in a Dallas uniform, keeping him sidelined for this entire season is probably the wise move. With lankier frames, big men such as Porzingis have a greater propensity to re-injure their knees following major surgery. Considering the fact that the Mavs are also lagging behind in a competitive Western Conference playoff picture, it makes little sense to bring Porzingis back prematurely.
