Aldridge passed on Knicks because they preferred to develop Porzingis at PF

As if the No. 4 overall draft pick wasn't a big enough investment for the New York Knicks to make in 19-year-old Latvian prospect Kristaps Porzingis.

It turns out the Knicks' complete commitment to Porzingis' development cost them a chance at former free-agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who now calls San Antonio home.

Aldridge, you might recall, had a free-agent meeting scheduled with the Knicks in July. He canceled that meeting because the Knicks wanted him to play center, a notion he adamantly opposed.

Before realizing that that's where he fit into their plans, though, Aldridge had a good feeling about the Knicks, and was intrigued by the prospect of playing alongside Carmelo Anthony.

"I was excited to meet with them," Aldridge told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News on Tuesday.

"Melo and I talked a little bit over text and we have mutual friends that passed messages along. I was interested. I talked to other guys to see if they were interested in going there too. I was interested but when they say they want me to play a position that I don’t want to play, I get it."

The Knicks wanted Aldridge to play said position so they could open up minutes for Porzingis, who, despite his 7-foot-3 frame, they prefer to develop as a power forward.

"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. ...

"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."

It's unclear how realistic a chance the Knicks would have had at landing Aldridge in any case; teams coming off 17-win seasons don't tend to attract superstar free agents.

Still, given that Porzingis' presence served as a deterrent for arguably the best player on the market, the Knicks have set the stakes for his growth rather high.