The New York Knicks will run after the biggest free agents this summer and at the top of the list is Kevin Durant.
Almost everyone knows that the Knicks are hungry for a free agent star to bring their team to the playoffs, especially since they don't have a draft pick, but Kevin Durant sounds preposterous considering their rivals for his services comprise virtually the entire league, including the last two champions, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.
The process of elimination has apparently begun as Marc Stein of ESPN reported that one of the ardent suitors who claim to have an "ace" on KD is out of the running.
A friendly meeting between former teammates James Harden and Kevin Durant had tongues wagging about recruitment (at this point, everything Durant does will be inevitable be linked to free agency) but it was promptly brushed off as Stein stated.
"At least one picture of Durant and Harden at a restaurant has circulated this week via Instagram, leading to inevitable speculation about Harden trying to recruit his former Oklahoma City Thunder colleague to Houston," Stein reported. "Sources insist the visit is nothing out of the ordinary for them, given the players' long-standing friendship, and particularly because Houston, sources say, is not a destination Durant intends to consider."
It figures that if a player like Dwight Howard would bolt a team, there's no reason for someone like Durant to be interested, even if Harden is there (or maybe because Harden is there).
But why would Durant choose the Knicks, as Skip Bayless of First Take claims?
There are off-court reasons-like Durant's dad being a Knick fan, but the former MVP would only base his decision on basketball, as Mike Lupica of Sports On Earth presumed. The main reason why Durant would even listen to the Knicks is "the unicorn" Kristaps Porzingis.
There is also the possibility of Carmelo Anthony taking a step down from his superstar status and taking a secondary supporting role. He did that superbly well in Team USA when he played with other superstars in 2008 and 2012.
It could be a long shot but if Melo does channel a "team-first" philosophy, the Knicks could have a real "Big Three."
As long as they're not eliminated like the Rockets, there's a definite chance.