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Knicks fans were expecting it all. From the outset of the 2019-20 season, the team was set to sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and draft Zion Williamson in the offseason coup of the century, or so went the rumors. Now, on the first day of free agency, it’s become clear that the Knicks struck out on all three, following Durant and Irving’s decision to team up and join New York’s crosstown rivals in Brooklyn.
When the news broke on Sunday afternoon, it was assumed that the Knicks lost out on the Durant sweepstakes because they were a less viable destination from a basketball standpoint. That wasn’t the only reason, however, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who is hearing that owner James Dolan and the organization did not offer the two-time Finals MVP a max-deal.
The Knicks and owner Jim Dolan were not prepared to offer Kevin Durant a full max contract due to concerns over his recovery from the Achilles injury, league sources tell me and @wojespn. Knicks officials are in Los Angeles tonight, meeting with free agents such as Julius Randle.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 30, 2019
Even with Durant missing all of next season while he recovers from a torn Achilles, the report is fairly shocking for a Knicks team that hasn’t been a serious contender for the better part of two decades. It’s very possible that the sources speaking with Shelburne are attempting to put forth the narrative that KD didn’t sign with New York because they didn’t want him, rather than that he wasn’t interested.
With two max slots available and a number of players already flying off the board, it remains unclear which stars, if any, the Knicks will be able to entice this offseason.
