New York Knicks: It’s time to back out of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes
After tearing his right Achilles in the NBA Finals, Kevin Durant has shaken up the NBA Offseason and the possible plans of the New York Knicks.
Going into this offseason, the New York Knicks were the betting favorites to land one of the best players in the league, Kevin Durant. They were willing to break the bank for this guy and use any luring tactic to get him in a Knicks jersey, however after his season-ending injury, and I think they should stop pursuing the 2013-14 MVP.
When healthy, there’s no doubt that Durant is worth whatever dollar amount he wants, but he’s not healthy, and his game may never be the same. An Achilles injury is, without a doubt, the severest injury to overcome as an NBA player. ACL, Meniscus, Orbital Fracture, you name it, it’s not as grueling on an NBA player as an Achilles. For Durant’s stature, it’s even more of an uphill battle.
Practically a 7 Footer, Durant is one of the lighter, more fragile big men in the NBA. 240 Pounds is more massive than me, but for someone who demands so much from their body athletically on a nightly basis, it’s not enough for someone of his height. These features may be the things that make KD who he is, but that’s eventually going to take a toll on anyone’s body. Now that he’s torn his Achilles, doctors have said that he’s no longer ‘An 82 game type of player’ and his durability will always be in question.
It’s fair to say that Durant will miss all of next season as he heals up, so why would the Knicks take the chance on someone who may never be the same again? By the time KD returns to the hardwood, he’ll be 32-years-old. Whether that’s in a Warriors, Knicks, or Nets jersey remains to be seen. No matter who it is that puts their faith and dollars into Durant, they’ll be rolling the dice for sure.
Knicks fans, you’ve been through enough. Most fans have never seen a Knicks title in the Modern Era, and it’s time to change that. I know that you may think Durant is the saving grace to the franchise regardless of the injury and you may be right. This dude is a career 27 Point Per Game scorer and is lethal on all facets of the floor. Some guys aren’t affected by injuries and can come back better than ever. Durant could be one of those guys, but the odds aren’t in his favor.
Many elite NBA players have torn their Achilles. Kobe Bryant, DeMarcus Cousins, Chauncey Billups, and Rudy Gay were all subject to this injury and were never even close to the same once returning. The only player to ever look better following this injury was Dominique Wilkins when he tore it in the 1991-92 season then came back and averaged 29.9 Points and 6.8 Rebounds. He made the All-Star team and All-NBA team the following two years and showed that it’s not impossible to recover from this type of injury. He was 32 when tearing his Achilles, which is an encouraging sign for the recovering Durant, but his future will never be guaranteed until he plays again and proves to fans that he can still hoop.
Somebody is going to have to take a gamble in giving Durant a Max Contract because his previous play justifies one. I hope the Knicks, for their sake, aren’t the ones to pay the price if he’s not the same though. This is the year of the Small Forward in Free Agency, and it can still be a successful Free Agency for this team if they don’t pursue or land Durant. Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and Khris Middleton are all healthy, viable options that are worth spending a Max Deal on. For the Knicks, they should take the safe route and heavily pursue one of these marquee Free Agents. Not only will these stars provide an instant impact to the organization, but they can also attract more notable players to come and play in Madison Square Garden.
Next. RJ Barrett only wants the Knicks. dark
This can end one of two ways. The Knicks will either be known as a franchise that took a gamble on Kevin Durant, and it paid off resulting in a championship for the city, or they wasted money and time into a guy that was never the same after an Achilles injury. For Durant and his legacy, I hope he can come back and be the same, but based on some of the greats this injury has plagued, I don’t see it happening. Knicks, please don’t continue to be the laughingstock of the NBA, back out of the Durant sweepstakes and pursue something more certain before it’s too late.