Kevin Durant doesn’t exactly sound like a guy who is seriously considering New York as a free-agent destination.
This is what happens when you win just one playoff series in 16 years and spend the last three postseasons at home. Durant wants to win titles right now, which puts the Knicks at a distinct disadvantage when the biggest free agent on the market becomes available on July 1st.
Joining Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony isn’t the worst thing. But it’s not a sure thing like teaming up with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
“I’m worried about basketball,” Durant told reporters in Austin, Tex., during the release of his new sneaker line on Monday. “That’s what it is for me. It’s a basketball decision. I’m looking forward to the future.”
The one player who can change the balance of power in the NBA is expected to meet with prospective teams in Los Angeles when the free-agent recruiting period beings in July, according to a source. Durant had considered holding meetings in New York, but apparently has decided to hear proposals in Los Angeles, where he owns an off-season home.
The same source maintains that if Durant doesn’t re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder he would prefer to join the Warriors, a team that has reached two straight NBA Finals and could rule the Western Conference for the next five years if Durant goes to the Bay Area.
The events of the past week clear the way for Durant to join the team that eliminated OKC in the Western Conference Finals. When the Warriors were on their way to setting an NBA record with 73 regular-season victories and were the favorites to repeat as NBA champs, the theory was that Durant wouldn’t be wise to sign with the Warriors.
Why join a team that has won back-to-back titles without you? That wouldn’t enhance Durant’s legacy. In fact, Durant could only hurt his legacy if he doesn’t win with Golden State.
But that narrative changed when the Cleveland Cavaliers made history by overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to win their first-ever title. The Warriors failed to beat Cleveland when the Cavaliers were at full strength. Now, Durant makes perfect sense.
Free-agent-to-be Harrison Barnes was dreadful in Games 5, 6 & 7 and Golden State’s offense imploded down the stretch of Game 7. The Warriors scored 13 fourth-quarter points and missed their last nine shots, including five from Curry. They needed a viable scoring option in their half-court sets and that would be Durant, a match-up nightmare for just about every opponent.
Durant has a long list of suitors including the Knicks, who no doubt damaged themselves when Phil Jackson fired Durant’s former teammate, Derek Fisher. Durant and Fisher are close. Durant also admires Porzingis, whom he nicknamed the Unicorn.
But OKC management breathed a sigh of relief when Fisher was suddenly ousted as Knicks coach. They believed the Knicks were a serious threat.
Now? Not so much.
The Miami Heat can never be ruled out as an option because Pat Riley has turned his franchise into the premiere free-agent destination in the league; warm weather, no state taxes, international city, winning tradition, great owner and Riley. But if Durant comes East, he’s now challenging LeBron James and the Cavs just to get to the NBA Finals.
There is a strong sense that Durant will sign a two-year deal with OKC that includes a one-year opt out. He still has Russell Westbrook as a teammate and may think that the Thunder, which led the Warriors 3-1 in the conference finals, has what it takes to knock off Golden State.
But Durant also realizes that the online sports book Bovada has already installed the Warriors as a 2-to-1 favorite to win the NBA Championship.
And that’s before they even get a chance to sign him.
