As the rumor mill spirals on, the New York Knicks will have to weed out the fake from the truth. Kevin Durant has publically stated his intentions to play with Kyrie Irving, and the star point guard is close to taking his talents to Brooklyn. This would indicate Durant’s following, but nothing is set in stone, the favorited teams will continue to take turns at the helm.
The Knicks have a solid youthful team looking to take a jump and sign a few big names in free agency. Madison Square Garden is a place most players dream of playing, but the inadequacies of the Knicks have turned superstars away from the spotlight in the past.
However, the organization seems to be going in a different direction, something that could be attractive at this point in time. The problem is, the Brooklyn Nets are also revolutionizing their mentality towards winning and success. The truth is, they might be the more attractive team coming off a playoff caliber season.
Are the New York Knicks in a position to win now?
The Knicks, who won just 17 games last season, are still at least a year away from being playoff contenders, a major turnoff for any big name free agents looking to make a change. Players like Durant want to compete immediately and not waste time on the shelf during their best years.
Owner James Dolan predicted “a very successful offseason when it comes to free agents,†but the injury to Durant have complicated things. In addition, the market of superstars seems to be dwindling in interest towards the Knicks, which could indicate a secondary market shopping spree.
Players like D’Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein could be attractive options for a team building around their youth players and prospects. The team simply isn’t experienced enough to dominate and compete at a high level just yet, which is the hurdle they will have to face in free agency.