ORLANDO -- Their engagement was sudden and unexpected. Shocking, actually, even by NBA standards.

Kristaps Porzingis awoke on Jan. 31 knowing that his four-year marriage to the Knicks was on the rocks. That morning he asked for a divorce and within an hour he was engaged to wed the Mavericks. No courtship. Not even a peck on the cheek.

Even now, we can't classify player and franchise as married because 7-foot-3 Porzingis is rehabbing his left knee. His contract will expire on June 30 before this union can be consummated by him appearing in a game or, more than likely, even a practice.

But five weeks into the relationship, all indications are that Porzingis and the Mavericks quickly are jelling, if not yet in love, evidenced by "The Unicorn's" response when The News asked whether he envisions a long future in Dallas.

"Most definitely, yeah," he said. "I love it here so far. I've been extremely happy here."

That isn't an "I do" or an exchange of rings, but no doubt it's a sentiment the Mavericks and their fans have longed to hear.

One way or another, Porzingis almost certainly will be a Maverick next season.

The question is whether he will sign a one-year qualifying offer of $4.5 million. Or sign a restricted-free-agent offer from another team that the Mavericks no doubt would match. Or sign as much as a five-year, $158 million extension with Dallas with a 2019-20 salary of $27.25 million.

Choice No. 3 is the no-brainer, but under NBA Collective Bargaining rules Porzingis and the Mavericks cannot discuss contract terms until July 1. That is because No. 4 pick Porzingis and the rest of the 2015 first-round draft class had an Oct. 15, 2018, deadline to sign contract extensions.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Myles Turner, Justise Winslow and Larry Nance Jr. signed extensions, but for Porzingis and others who did not, the negotiation window closed until July 1.

"So we'll call 'em on July 1 and show 'em all the love and go from there," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said.

'We're all working together'

Kristaps Porzingis looks to the scoreboard prior to the start of a game between the Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Ryan Michalesko/The Dallas Morning News) (Ryan Michalesko / Staff Photographer)

There are other, perfectly-within-the-rules ways to show love. The Mavericks are doing that. And a grateful Porzingis is reciprocating.

The Mavericks have one of the largest, most diverse and most respected training staffs in the NBA, led by head athletic trainer Casey Smith and director of athletic performance Jeremy Holsopple. Still, the Mavericks aren't merely allowing Porzingis to work with his personal physiotherapist, Manolo Valdivieso, as did the Knicks; they have added Valdivieso to the training staff.

A week after the seven-player, two-draft pick trade that sent Porzingis to Dallas, The New York Post cited sources in reporting that Porzingis' brother and agent, Janis, rankled the Knicks by asking for jobs for some members of Kristaps' inner circle.

When Kristaps Porzingis began accompanying the Mavericks on road trips, something he didn't do while rehabbing as a Knick, Valdivieso of course became part of the travel party.

Porzingis told The News that Valdivieso and the Mavericks' training staff are working seamlessly together.

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"Nobody has any problem of the territory," he said. "It's all open and we're all working together. That was something that I wanted to have. And I'm happy that the Dallas Mavericks organization and the people who are here are so open and so willing to help us out with anything."

It's hardly the first time the Mavericks have welcomed a player's personal trainer into the franchise fold.

Dirk Nowitzki's longtime coach and mentor, Holger Geschwindner, has been a Mavericks mainstay for the better part of two decades, except for a brief period when former coach Avery Johnson objected.

"I knew Dirk had his own guy," Porzingis said. "I just didn't know the dynamic, how it worked. So now that I'm experiencing it, I can tell that these people are really high-level."

Nowitzki also has a personal physiotherapist who also works with other Mavericks players, opportunities that Valdivieso now also has.

"Valdy's really good," Cuban said. "We checked him out. It wasn't just because of K.P. that we hired him. It's also because he's really good."

'It's a win-win'

Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle talks with Kristaps Porzingis (6) during a workout at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News) (Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer)

When Porzingis made his trade request on the morning of Jan. 31, he reportedly gave the Knicks four preferred destinations, none of which was Dallas: Nets, Raptors, Spurs and Clippers.

Five days later, when Porzingis and fellow ex-Knicks Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke and Courtney Lee had their introductory news conference in Dallas, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle made a point of acknowledging Janis Porzingis and Valdivieso in the audience.

The clear message: Kristaps now is part of the Mavericks family, which means, so, too, is his inner circle.

When the Mavericks began their current three-game road trip earlier this week in Brooklyn, Carlisle raved about 23-year-old Porzingis' character and work ethic.

"What I've learned about him is he's a tremendous talent; that's obvious," Carlisle said. "He's a great kid. He is meticulous in how he approaches things. Very detailed. Extremely hard-working and organized in everything he does.

"Those are all the traits of a guy that has a chance to be really tremendously great."

When Porzingis goes through post-practice shooting, cutting and dribbling drills, usually with sixth-year Mavericks director of player development Mike Procopio barking out instructions, Carlisle often is in the wings, watching intently.

In recent weeks Porzingis has ramped up his activity, but Carlisle is adamant that Porzingis won't play this season and is extremely unlikely to practice.

Kristaps Porzingis (left) applauds his teammates while sitting next to Dirk Nowitzki (right) during a game against the Denver Nuggets at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

"They had a plan in place," Carlisle said of Porzingis' inner circle. "And we're helping facilitate them executing their plan. And I know our trainer, strength coaches and medical [staff] are adding value to it. It's a win-win as far as I can see."

Carlisle also has had video sessions with Porzingis, as have other members of the Mavericks staff, to give him an idea of the role they see him playing next season - and if the franchise has its way, well beyond.

During games, Porzingis often stands out during timeout huddles - and not simply because he's a 7-3 guy in a nice suit. Carlisle described him as "vocal" in huddles.

"It's things that I see on the court," Porzingis said. "Individual things that I talk to the guys about, things about the other team. Just basketball stuff."

Are these the actions of a player who in any way regards himself to be a Mavericks short-timer? Of course not.

"Categorically, he appears to me to be a leader, which is something you can't have enough of," Carlisle said. "All the signs point to a really great direction."

Last, but certainly not least, are the relationships Porzingis is forging with teammates. Judging by how animated he is on the sideline during games, Porzingis clearly relishes this opportunity to watch and pick the brain of the player he grew up idolizing, 40-year-old Dirk Nowitzki.

Then there is Latvian Porzingis' budding relationship with 20-year-old Slovenian Luka Doncic, against whom he had played in international competition. Both speak fluent Spanish and, Carlisle noted with a smile, "listen to a lot of the same music in Spanish."

Doncic told The News that he and Porzingis often have meals together, adding "At this point, he's just excited to play. He's been out for a long time and he's been working so hard. I can't wait to see him on the court."

During the brief periods when reporters are allowed in to see the end of Mavericks' practices, tweeted videos of Porzingis draining 3-pointers and dunking, albeit with no one guarding him, invariably cause fans to salivate about a future headlined by Doncic and Porzingis.

Mavs fans seem to salivate when we tweet @kporzee videos, so get a paper towel, or something. pic.twitter.com/WKuqfmsyul — Brad Townsend (@townbrad) March 1, 2019

Clearly it's a future that Porzingis also visualizes. A long pairing that now seems mostly a question of how long and for how much money.

"I'm happy to be around the team as much as I am, being on the road with them, just feeling like a part of the team, part of the group," he said. "It feels good.

"But the main part is the playing. It's what I miss the most. I can't wait."

Twitter: @Townbrad