Kevin Durant (L) and Carmelo Anthony with Team USA. (Photo : Getty Images)
Carmelo Anthony is rumored to be luring incoming free agent Kevin Durant to the New York Knicks as both players are set to lead the United States men's national basketball team in the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics.
Anthony and Durant are the only two remaining players in the 2012 London Olympics Team USA roster to defend their crown this year as superstars LeBron James, Chris Paul, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Love have all passed up the opportunity, Fox News reported.
Kobe Bryant is already retired, Andre Iguodala is tired, and Deron Williams and Tyson Chandler were not invited so it is Anthony and Durant's turn to lead ten other players without prior Olympic experience this August in Brazil.
Meanwhile, as both players cozy up with each other while training for the Rio games, reports have emerged that Anthony had been trying to recruit Durant to join him, Derrick Rose, and Kristaps Porzingis in New York next season.
"I'm with KD now; he's right downstairs," said Anthony, as reported by ESPN. "We've been together. We've been talking."
Durant, a seven-time NBA All-Star and the 2014 MVP, previously said that he does not plan to meet with Knicks representatives this summer regarding his impending unrestricted free-agency. But Anthony is hopeful that he could still make New York one of his options.
"I do consider myself part of the Knicks, so that meeting has already taken place," Anthony said.
The two players had been together in New York even before Monday's announcement of Team USA's final 12-man roster and so Anthony had ample time to chat with Durant while working out together under head coach Mike Krzyzewski's watch.
NBA free-agency period officially begins this Friday, July 1 and teams could formally submit their offers to free agents starting that time.
"Melo has been my friend since I have been in high school. We talk about everything," said Durant. "That is like my big brother right there. The best thing about all of us, none of the guys here have put any type of pressure. It has been cool."
"They obviously have a good team now with D-Rose, Melo and Porzingis. Like I said, I am going to talk to my team and we will figure things out, but right now, it is kind of hard to say," Durant said when asked about his chances of signing with the Knicks this summer.
