Lakers eye Porzingis after Knicks end long title drought

Lakers eye – After the Knicks captured their first title since 1973 on Saturday night, Los Angeles can shift to the offseason. One name now linked to the Lakers: Kristaps Porzingis, with a reported $8 million possible offer if the Warriors’ financial situation keeps them f

The Knicks didn’t just win. They waited.

On Saturday night. New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs to capture their first championship since 1973. closing a season that finally delivered what that franchise had been chasing for decades. By the time the confetti settled, the attention could already begin moving west—toward what the Lakers do next.

Los Angeles, facing an offseason full of potential targets, could find one in the shape of a former Knicks All-Star. The connection is tied to Kristaps Porzingis, whose name has resurfaced after the Warriors made him a priority move at the trade deadline.

The NBA offseason talk starts with what happened in the Bay. Kristaps Porzingis was acquired by the Golden State Warriors ahead of the trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks. But injuries followed him around, draining the impact of the gamble. As Eric Pincus wrote Saturday, Porzingis dealt with calf and health issues, limiting his contribution. Even so. Pincus added that when he was near full strength—though still without Jimmy Butler—the Warriors were fun to watch.

That “when healthy” caveat is exactly why the money matters.

The plan for Golden State. as Pincus laid it out. could include seeking out LeBron James in free agency to pair him with Steph Curry. Draymond Green. Butler when healthy. and Porzingis. But the math gets tight under the first apron if James were to command the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. In that scenario, Pincus suggested the Warriors’ offer to Porzingis could land closer to $8 million.

If Golden State can’t match or if the gap is too wide. the question becomes what happens to Porzingis next. Pincus floated the possibility that he could return to the Hawks. And he also framed why multiple teams might still be interested: Porzingis could intrigue the Lakers specifically with his scoring ability. or any other contender with the full mid-level in need of scoring size.

For the Warriors, there’s a second problem beyond the contract numbers. If they don’t re-sign Porzingis in free agency, the move will inevitably look like a failure. The goal of bringing him in midseason. as framed in Pincus’s reporting. was to help Golden State navigate its way to the postseason and become a dark-horse title contender. But the Warriors’ inability to advance past the Play-In with Porzingis as Curry’s newest co-star crushed those hopes.

And even if the postseason didn’t come together, the bigger concern is staying power. Porzingis has had noticeable injury issues. and Pincus pointed out that he’s only appeared in 60+ regular-season contests twice since entering the league in 2015. For any team thinking about committing money, that record turns the decision into a gamble.

Still, the Lakers may not have the luxury of waiting.

They “need a big man in the worst way imaginable” after Deandre Ayton’s troubling two-way play. and that’s what brings Porzingis back into the conversation as a potential solution. If the Lakers determine he’s the most attainable target—especially if his price moves toward that $8 million range—they may feel forced to add him to the equation. despite the risks.

Between New York’s long-awaited championship moment and the Lakers’ immediate need for frontcourt answers, Porzingis sits right at the intersection of opportunity and uncertainty—exactly the kind of offseason dilemma teams can’t afford to ignore.

Lakers Knicks Kristaps Porzingis Deandre Ayton Golden State Warriors offseason targets NBA free agency Steph Curry LeBron James Draymond Green