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Knicks president: Team won't 'jeopardize' Porzingis by rushing him back

Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Kristaps Porzingis is back in the Big Apple, but the New York Knicks won't be rushing him back onto the court anytime soon.

Speaking at a preseason event with season ticket holders, team president Steve Mills addressed Porzingis' rehab situation when asked a question about the 23-year-old Latvian potentially returning on Christmas Day against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Our goal is to not to do anything that jeopardizes KP’s future as one of the foundational pieces of this team,” Mills said according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. “He’s back. We’ll have some medical evaluations this week and start to develop the right plan for his comeback. But we’re not going to do anything to jeopardize the future of the franchise.”

Porzingis stayed in Europe for a majority of the offseason to rehab with Real Madrid, but was visited by new head coach David Fizdale and is reportedly on good terms with Fizdale and front office.

“I felt I knew him already,” Fizdale said. “It was fun. I had my offense and defense ready to show him, but we didn’t watch one speck of film.”

While many Knicks fans are hoping for a big splash signing next summer, with Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler rumored to be primary targets, GM Scott Perry encouraged season ticket holders to focus on the season ahead .

“Our main focus is the 18-19 season,” Perry said. “As much as we talked about having cap space, in all honesty, we are trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves. This team requires our undivided attention. I understand fans drifting to the future. Once it gets to ’19, we can have that conversation.”

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