The New York Knicks declined to extend Kristaps Porzingis heading into this season, a move that frees up cap space that could potentially be used on a star free agent next summer, which is shaping up to be a stellar free agent class.

The move should give the Knicks more flexibility moving forward, but does it come with the cost of upsetting the franchise’s centerpiece? Pierce believes Porzingis has the right to be upset.

“Porzingis should be upset,” Pierce said. “First of all, you’ve got an ACL injury and you have a max extension right there. As a player, you want that. You want to secure that. You’re coming off of an injury. You don’t know what’s going to happen this next year.”