Kristaps Porzingis plans on signing a long-term contract with the Dallas Mavericks before spending the majority of the summer training with teammate Luka Doncic, sources told Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend.
The Mavericks are reportedly expected to offer the restricted free agent a five-year, $158-million offer this summer with the expectation he and Doncic could develop into a title-contending duo.
The Latvian center was acquired by the Mavericks after demanding a trade from the New York Knicks. Dallas moved DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr., and two future first-round picks to land Porzinigs, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Courtney Lee this past January.
Porzingis hasn't appeared in a game since February 2018 when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear that forced him to miss the entire 2018-19 season.
The 23-year-old averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 48 games before suffering the injury.
Dallas has more than enough cap space to sign an additional star before officially inking Porzingis to his new deal. If they manage to recruit a marquee free agent, the Mavericks could immediately find themselves among the elite in the Western Conference if the 7-foot-3 All-Star is able to return to form.
