3. New York Knicks
According to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania (and to the surprise of no one), the top four teams in the Kevin Durant Sweepstakes are the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. Just over a month ago, the Knicks seemed like the heavy favorites of the bunch.
Not only did they have the ability to create two max slots in free agency, sparking rumors about a KD team-up with Kyrie Irving in the Big Apple, but they had 14 percent odds at the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery. They had a legitimate chance to emerge from the summer with KD, Kyrie and either Zion Williamson or Anthony Davis, depending on what assets they were willing to put forth in a potential trade package.
Unfortunately, everything that happened next doomed New York’s perpetually doomed franchise.
"I think the Knicks are more neutral than they are confident about the possibilities of getting Durant and Irving in the Garden next season"@IanBegley with the latest on free agency in New York: pic.twitter.com/TBQwzNTtxf
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 27, 2019
The Knicks dropped to No. 3 in the draft order, Zion fell into the New Orleans Pelicans’ lap, the Los Angeles Lakers traded for AD, Kyrie-to-Brooklyn became a thing and the potential leverage New York had in luring a second star — Kevin Durant joining — lost its luster thanks to his Achilles tear.
The Knicks will still pursue KD with everything they’ve got, because even a redshirting Durant could attract another star player. Even if they got KD and no one else, they could preserve cap space for 2020, when his return would spark more interest in this once prominent franchise.
There’s no denying that playing in Madison Square Garden holds massive appeal, especially if he could forever cement his legacy — without the stupid “super-team” asterisk attached — by restoring this franchise to prominence with its first title since 1973.
When free agency starts the Knicks are expecting to have meetings with Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard before heading to Los Angeles to meet with what are considered second tier free agents. The countdown begins...
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) June 26, 2019
However, because of this injury, Durant probably knows he has worse chances of recruiting a contender around him, especially with such a dysfunctional organization and young, barren roster. If his heart is set on the Knicks, that’s one thing, but thanks to the draft lottery, the lay of the free agency landscape and his untimely injury, they’ve become a decidedly less attractive option.