The New York Knicks balked. They froze.
Over the last year, they seemed to carefully set themselves up to land Kevin Durant in free agency this offseason. When the moment came, they found a way to take themselves out of the discussion. They weren’t even in financial contention with the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks and owner Jim Dolan didn’t offer a full max contract to Durant in free agency because of concerns about his Achilles injury, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.
That’s right. New York wouldn’t give the best player in the NBA a full max deal. And so Durant will go to Brooklyn with Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. The Knicks, meanwhile, have Julius Randle and … not much else. New York seemed to empty its trove of assets to clear cap space and accelerate a rebuild during this offseason. In fact, the Knicks seemed like favorites to land both Durant and Irving. Then it all fell apart. Brooklyn stole the stars away from New York, likely in large part because the Knicks wouldn’t make the proper financial commitment to Durant.
Durant’s Achilles injury comes with tremendous complications in a jumping sport for a man of his size. Durant also has his flaws and has struggled to handle external pressures from fans and media members. (See: his burner accounts and grumpy press conferences.) But he’s still the best player in the world when he’s healthy. Maybe he’ll lose some of his quickness and leaping ability. He’s still a gifted shooter and a rangy athlete with handles. Durant will likely be one of the best players in the NBA when he returns — even if he’s not the best.
Perhaps the Knicks didn’t want to get stuck with a bad contract. There’s a glimmer of logic in that statement. But then they signed Randle to three-year $63 million deal, which seems a lot like a bad contract. Any argument of good judgement and conservative decision-making dies with Randle’s contract. If you’re giving anyone a risky deal in this free agency pool, give it to Durant — not Randle.
Knicks fans have every right to get frustrated. (I’m looking at you, Stephen A. Smith.) And Durant and Irving had every right to avoid that organization. The fact that the Knicks wouldn’t give Durant a max deal is proof enough that they’re an organization that the superstar — and all superstars — should avoid. New York further proved its lack of vision and execution. The Knicks will continue their streak of irrelevance next season.
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