Report: Spurs believed to have 'significant interest' in Porzingis

With Kristaps Porzingis heading toward restricted free agency this summer, the New York Knicks may have to fight off other teams to retain their All-Star big man.

The San Antonio Spurs are one team believed to have "significant interest" in Porzingis, according to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, citing league sources.

However, signing Porzingis to a max offer sheet - four years, $122.1 million - would prove difficult. Not only does New York have the right to match any offer sheet, but the Spurs have $110.9 million in salary committed to just 12 players for 2019-20. That already puts them at odds with the salary cap projection for next season, reported to be $109 million. Creating enough space below the cap to sign Porzingis would likely necessitate jettisoning some of the Spurs' current talent.

Porzingis, still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last February, has yet to make his season debut. When healthy, the 7-foot-3 Latvian has been a rising force, averaging 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and two blocks per game through his first three campaigns. Still only 23 years old, Porzingis represents a potential building block for a team with championship aspirations, in spite of his injury history.