On the verge of their return, Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis responds to exchange rumors

The lost ice week. Trade rumors. Three games lost with stiffness in the lower back.

Kristaps Porzingis has suffered a lot in the past two weeks, remaining publicly silent. He broke the silence on Friday, after practicing fully, anticipating returning to the court to face Nets, the eastern leader, in Brooklyn on Saturday night.

First, the rumor that came up Monday night in a Bleacher Report story that said the Mavericks were assessing their commercial value, a report that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle vehemently refuted.

“It was like I left and it is what it is,” said Porzingis. “I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. And I shouldn’t be too concerned about that. It can only distract me at the end of the day. I try to focus on being in the moment, being here on a daily basis and working with my teammates and improving as a basketball player. “

Porzingis, in the second year of a five-year contract worth a maximum of $ 158 million, which includes a player exclusion clause after the fourth season, has played just 17 of Dallas’ 31 games this season.

He last played on February 14 against Portland, two nights after scoring 36 points, the highest of the season, against New Orleans.

Then came the winter weather and the power and water outages that caused two postponements of games during a week in which Porzingis worked on muscle conditioning to improve his posture and posture and therefore his defensive struggles.

When the Mavericks, after eight days off, finally returned to host Memphis on Monday, Porzingis was pronounced out with a stiff back. Shortly after that game, the Bleacher Report’s story broke, so Porzingis lost his home victory on Tuesday against Boston and a 14-point loss on Thursday in Philadelphia.

“I just didn’t have the best luck in that regard,” said Porzingis, 25, of his long history of injuries, major and minor, that made him lose 177 out of a potential 440 regular season and playoff games during his career.

“I had some injuries and I’m fighting them and I’m coming back and then something else happens here and there,” he continued. “It’s been a bit like this until now, but I’m working to make sure that my body is strong and that we are durable and I can just play without thinking about anything, without worrying … just being free out there and enjoying the game I love. “

In the midst of physical setbacks, which included losing the first nine games of this season during rehabilitation from meniscus surgery on the right knee, there were mental challenges.

Along with the business stories that have emerged in recent days, there have been criticisms of his defense, which Carlisle attributed to Porzingis’ inability to train during the off season or participate in the training camp.

Although there was a significant increase in his offensive production – he averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 50% field shots and 42.3% 3 point distance in eight February games – Porzingis agrees that his defensive performance was not up to his standards.

“I have had situations where, especially when I am on defense, you see with your eyes and your mind and want to react, but you are only half a step behind. You are not there. It’s a frustrating feeling too, when you know you can do it, but you just don’t. So, this is on my mind.

“I’ve been working hard to make sure I’m in a good position where I can react quickly, do what I do on the defensive. It’s frustrating when I feel like I can do a little better. It’s obviously a team game, but in the end I look at myself and see what I can do better. “

Carlisle said Porzingis looked good in Friday practice, adding that he expects Porzingis to face the Nets, who have won eight straight games, but again won’t have Kevin Durant injured on Saturday.

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