New York Knicks: Don't Dream About Kevin Durant

With the salary cap set to spike this summer, the New York Knicks have room to add a superstar via free agency. Kevin Durant is the biggest fish in the pond, but to realistically expect him to sign with the Knicks is foolish.

After the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, there was much speculation that superstar Kevin Durant would enter free agency this summer of 2016 leave OKC. Of course, crazed Knicks fans immediately fantasized KD coming to New York. Before we become delusional, let me assure you that Durant is NOT coming to the Knicks.

First of all, why would he want to come to the Knicks? Madison Square Garden is labeled the “Mecca of Basketball”, but is there any truth to this? Sure, there are a lot of dedicated fans around New York that support the Knicks, but in reality, a superstar will have dedicated fans wherever he goes. In whichever arena Durant plays in, the dimensions of the court will be constant at 94×50 feet, so there is no on-court advantage of playing at MSG as opposed to anywhere else.

More importantly, why would Durant leave a team that was minutes away from making the NBA Finals in order to come to a team that finished the season 32-50 (.390)?

Phil Jackson has done nothing noteworthy in free agency yet during his tenure as president of the Knicks, and his only real highlight is drafting Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 pick. However, Jackson really took Porzingis because his top two choices, Jahlil Okafor, and D’Angelo Russell were off the board. Jackson has 11 championships as a coach but has a 49-115 record (.299) as an executive. Phil won’t be Nick Saban or Jim Harbaugh-like as a recruiter, and his recent coach hirings of Derek Fisher and Jeff Hornacek don’t strengthen his case.

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I doubt that the Knicks are even in the top-10 in his list of potential teams if he decides to leave OKC. There are much better teams with established players that are already in a better playoff position, and could offer the same money as the Knicks (except for OKC which can offer more money). Porzingis has potential, but he is not developed yet. He still needs to improve his conditioning in order to play more minutes, needs to add more weight, and needs to be more consistent. When there are already established players elsewhere, Porzingis’ potential alone will not bring KD to New York. Carmelo Anthony is the other recruiting piece, but I don’t see Durant and Melo being able to co-exist, especially when both of them require the ball to make plays. Neither of them is a great passer, and without a point guard, there will undoubtedly be chemistry issues.

If Durant decides to leave OKC this summer, I see him going to San Antonio, Golden State, or Boston. The Spurs and Warriors are already championship contenders, while the Celtics are a good playoff team in the weak Eastern Conference. Durant will want to go to a place that is near-guaranteed of making the Finals every year, and unfortunately for Knicks fans, New York is not there yet.

I think Durant will sign a two-year deal to remain with the Thunder, with an opt-out clause after one year. If the Thunder make more progress and reach the Finals next year, he will sign a max contract with them next summer when the salary cap balloons even more. If the Thunder go backward, then Durant will simply be a free agent again next year by opting out, and will sign a max deal with another championship-level team. Russell Westbrook will be a free agent next summer too, so that also may influence the decision on where KD goes.

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There are way too many holes on the roster (they still don’t have an above-average point guard), and an aging Carmelo, questionable head coach, and still-not-developed Porzingis will not magically lure KD to New York.

Durant will accept an invite to meet with the head coach and Phil for lunch or dinner, but he will do that to every team he is contacted by. The meeting won’t be indicative of him signing here; it’s just a courtesy and free food.

Whatever happens, Durant is not coming to the Knicks, now or ever.

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New York Knicks: Don’t Dream About Kevin Durant

By Nikhil Potpally | Jun 2, 2016