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Porzingis still wants to see growth before signing extension with Knicks

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

After moving on from the Carmelo Anthony era this summer, the Knicks' next big project is clear: inking star center Kristaps Porzingis to a long-term extension.

The biggest hang-up?

When asked if he still wants to see the organization take positive steps toward competing before signing what figures to be a lucrative extension to his rookie contract, the 22-year-old told the NY Daily News' Stefan Bondy: "Yeah."

"Yeah. That's it," Porzingis reiterated.

That's been Porzingis' tone since the end of last season - a campaign rife with palace intrigue that saw former franchise cornerstone Anthony and team president Phil Jackson leave the organization.

In April, Porzingis told Latvian magazine Sporta Avize that he wished to stay in New York, "but the thing I want most of all is winning," as quoted by The New York Post's Marc Berman. His older brother Janis told ESPN's Ian Begley in May that "the only thing (Porzingis) wants is for the Knicks to create an environment where he can develop and grow as a player and win."

Next summer, the Knicks will be able to sign Porzingis to the designated rookie scale maximum extension, a deal which could be worth north of the $148 million over five seasons that Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid signed this past month, depending on the 2018-19 salary cap.

Should Porzingis fail to reach an agreement next summer, he will have another opportunity to sign an extension to stay in New York in summer 2019, giving the Knicks plenty of time to take a step toward playoff contention after four seasons without a postseason appearance.

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