Unlike 2010 and 2014, when LeBron James shook the very foundation of the NBA by changing teams, this offseason lacks that elite superstar who can flip a franchise's fortunes just by signing on the dotted line. That's not to say there aren't a slew of talented options. LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Paul Milsap, DeAndre Jordan, Greg Monroe. There are some good ball players hitting the open market this summer. But the real free agent prize is coming next year when Oklahoma City Thunder star and last year's MVP Kevin Durant is free to sign with anyone he wants.
We know that every single team with salary cap space will make a run at Durant in free agency. But what about the New York Knicks? Desperate for a winner, Phil Jackson and New York's ownership could throw the kitchen sink at Durant in hopes of building a contender. Should Knicks fans brace themselves for another crushing free agency blow or can they allow themselves to get their hopes up?
"The Knicks will have the money, but so will other teams," ESPN NBA Insider Bradford Doolittle wrote. "New York is an exciting city, but Durant can be a little prickly with the media, and that could work against the Big Apple. The Knicks aren't very good either. But if Phil Jackson can land Gasol or Aldridge [in free agency this offseason], and the Knicks go on a run in the East this year behind a resurgent Carmelo Anthony, then who knows? It's hard to say which part of that pipe dream sounds the least realistic. Even under ideal circumstances, would Durant really want to play with Anthony?
Durant seems to be more concerned with winning a championship than maxing out his dollar amount or building an off-court branding empire. That doesn't bode well for New York, which has enjoyed just three winning seasons since the 2002-03 season. Knicks fans shouldn't put all their eggs in the Durant basket unless monumental progress is made over the next year.
