The New York Knicks is in pursuit of Kevin Durant and they are not trying to hide their desire. The Knicks got involved in a multi-player trade that sent their franchise player Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for DeAndre Jordan, Durant's long-time friend, to free up cap space.
Kevin Durant of the Golden State is expected to weigh his options this coming offseason. After taking a hometown discount, the two-time NBA Finals MVP and one-time NBA Regular Season MVP will likely be seeking a max-contract befitting his stature as a top-5 NBA player.
Any team in the NBA would be willing to pay top money if it meant having the services of one of the most feared scorers in the history of the game. And the New York Knicks are definitely interested in Kevin Durant and they have the assets that could attract any NBA superstar.
Consider this: the Knicks have the cap to sign two max-contracts, will also have a top-five first-round draft pick, a well-respected head coach in David Fizdale, and already have the former All-Star DeAndre Jordan in its roster. Having Durant in the fold, plus another top-caliber All-Star would immediately make New York a contender not only in the Eastern Conference but in the entire league.
The New York Knicks will also keep a sharp eye on this year's free agency season with hopes of landing another superstar that could pair up with Kevin Durant. Among the 2019 top-tier free agents include Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Vucevic, and Tobias Harris.
While the Knicks fans are clamoring for a savior, there is no guarantee that New York would get one. Since trading away Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks' remain optimistic that they could attract superstars to build around.
And the Knicks has as much chance to sign Kevin Durant as any team in the NBA. After all, DeAndre Jordan is a long-time friend of Durant and reports suggest that one of former Jordan's teams, the LA Clippers, got the chance to interview Durant during KD's first foray on free agency is due to the strength of that friendship alone.
But then again, friendship doesn't count as much in today's NBA and doesn't guarantee that friends would end up playing together in the same team. After all, the banana boat club that featured LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul didn't get the chance to play together.
Well, James and Wade did play together in Miami and Cleveland. But the other member of that exclusive club only got to play together in Team USA and on the All-Star teams.
That being said, all is fair in the NBA free agency. And if the recently concluded mid-season trade deadline is of any indication, then the NBA is up for a wild NBA free agency. Come to think of it, the 2019 free agency season may already have already started for some players.
In order to help All-Star captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo make the best decisions for the NBA All-Star draft, the All-Stars reportedly put-out their best foot forward in their Tinder profiles. While these profiles are definitely just for fun, Kevin Durant's suggested that he's moving to New York City in five months.
While the All-Stars' profiles would crack anyone up, there's just so much truth in these parodies. Fans could relate to Anthony Davis' "seeking distance from my soon-to-be future ex," Ben Simmons' dislike of "3PT shooting," and James Harden's passion for "enjoying long walks to the FT line," as they apply to the current league drama.
And the fact that Kevin Durant's move to the Knicks doesn't seem to be out of the ordinary, fans would start wondering if, like everyone else's profile, there is a grain of truth in it. Regardless of the motives, those Tinder profiles are hilarious, and in an alternate reality, it could be an indication of a star's innermost desire.
Forbes ranked the Knicks as the most-valuable NBA franchise and revealed that the team's estimated value is $4 billion. That said, the New York Knicks remains one of the most alluring destinations for superstars. And Kevin Durant, regardless of what's been said, would probably take a look at New York.
