Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant is the top free agent on the market, and has been in New York since last week, declining multiple interview requests by The Post on Sunday. And while the Knicks haven’t yet landed a sit-down with Durant and are believed to be long shots at best to sign him this summer, a recent report claims that they have at least given themselves an opportunity to sign the star.
While the Oklahoman had recently broken down the contenders for Durant’s services and didn’t even put the Knicks on the list — ranking them behind “the delusional pipe-dreamers” category — USA Today reported Saturday night that the deal for Derrick Rose and development of Kristaps Porzingis have led to Durant seeing the Knicks in a more favorable light. |
http://nypost.com/2016/06/26/kevin-durant-rethinking-knicks-after-derrick-rose-trade-report/
On the other hand the Knicks have NOT been granted a meeting yet per Ian Begley
Ian Begley
ESPN Staff Writer
No meeting has been scheduled - or agreed to - between the Knicks and Kevin Durant at this point, sources say. The Knicks are optimistic that they'll ultimately get consideration from Durant but they were not among the initial group of teams with whom Durant agreed to meet. The Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the first known teams to secure a meeting with Durant, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Durant's ties to the Knicks include his strong relationship with Carmelo Anthony and the relationship between his agent, Rich Kleiman of Roc Nation Sports, and Knicks GM Steve Mills. Still, given that New York is not among the first group of teams with whom Durant has agreed to meet, it seems as if the club faces long odds to sign him.
-Durant's camp has confirmed 6 meetings so far
-Grizzlies claim Wroten
-Knicks add Summers to Summer League squad
-Knicks add Tokoto to Summer League Squad (he reminds me Shumpert, don't count him out making the roster).
- Knicks interested in Crawford (and he in them)
-Kyler says we rank our center options as Noah #1 and Howard #2, would be "surprised" if the Knicks don't sign one of them. At this point I'd be shocked if Noah isn't a Knick.
-Tommy Dee claims we are interested in Parsons and Gerald Green
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is Durant resigns for a 1+1 and we attempt to impress him next offseason with an improved KP and either a healthy Rose or cap space for Westbrook. Though I think the idea of KD and RW pairing up again on another team is just odd unless it is a revolt against OKC's ownership.
It'd be pretty damn hard to, if he re-signs for a 1 year deal in OKC I think 60-65 wins is easily in play for them.
In play but I think unlikely. Cant project everyone to keep getting better. Im not convinced Adams will continue his playoffs breakout. Nor am I convinced that Oladipo is a good fit. Very good defender, but not much of a shooter and has been affirmatively bad off ball. That's why the Magic turned him into a 6th man (to get him away from Elf) and why I think they ultimately traded him.
But lets say you're right. He sees that now too. So there isnt an argument to get him to leave for NY. But if Rose is a 21-6 PG and KP looks like a guy still on the Dirk-or-better path, the Knicks have an argument next year. Right now, he comes here and we have no SG and no C and little $$ to spend. That's not a good argument.
You could add me and you on that bench and it would be a title contender...
When the big 3 in miami came together what did Miami have on their roster that was so great?
When the big 3 came together in Boston what did they have that was so great? And don't give me Rondo because everyone thought he was garbage the year before and wanted to fire rivers...
He also still thinks blatt is still in the running for the knicks job...
And at the same time all of us know he's not coming here.
Don't be so dramatic. I accidentally left him out and he's still not the difference between that team being ready to compete for the Finals or not.
And at the same time all of us know he's not coming here.
But isn't it fun! Haha, the best are the people who take it so seriously in thinking that we believe he is coming...
Sure making my slow day today go faster
You could add me and you on that bench and it would be a title contender...
When the big 3 in miami came together what did Miami have on their roster that was so great?[quote]
When the big 3 came together in Boston what did they have that was so great?
Miami shouldn't even be part of the comparison. Lebron took Shumpert and JR Smith to the finals twice. Lebron isn't in this equation.
The Boston comparison works fine, but Boston was 2 hall of famers and a maybe-HOF player all buying in at the same time to desperately get that ring at the end of their careers.
Durant probably doesn't come here but the Knicks are basically one big player away from 55-60 wins assuming they can fill out the back end of the rotation, which is pretty easy to do especially when the front end of the team is star studded.
Durant won't pass on the Knicks because they have no shot at winning with him.
Blaming a failed landing of Durant on Phil and conjuring up Riley's name as the better GM is just ridiculous. Riley went to Miami and inherited a well stocked franchise. Phil inherited Fallujah circa 2005.
Jon,
You would really make the argument the Knicks would be on your short list if your #1 most important thing was winning? C'mon that is ridiculous. How about the Spurs for one? Quite a few contenders could use an upgrade at Center. Heck, the Heat sans Whiteside, the Mavs I could go on and on. The Knicks are not near being contenders and joining them because you value "winning" is farcical.
Spurs
Cavs
Mavs
Hawks
Pacers
Celtics
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many teams have a trio better than KP/Rose/Melo, have the cap room to sign noah, and have a massive hole at center where he'd be the obvious starter?
Jon,
You would really make the argument the Knicks would be on your short list if your #1 most important thing was winning? C'mon that is ridiculous. How about the Spurs for one? Quite a few contenders could use an upgrade at Center. Heck, the Heat sans Whiteside, the Mavs I could go on and on. The Knicks are not near being contenders and joining them because you value "winning" is farcical.
Do the Spurs have cap room to sign Noah?
I'd take the Knicks trio over the Heat without Whiteside. Same with the Mavs without Parsons (and Dirk for that matter).
Still waiting for a viable option for him other than the TWolves.
Forget durant....
If they added Crabbe and Noah could
Rose/Galloway
Crabbe
Melo/ Thomas
KP
Noah/oquinn/willy
Maybe add Crawford, is that a contender in the east?
Spurs
Cavs
Mavs
Hawks
Pacers
Celtics
Cavs + Spurs don't have cap. Mavs I addressed already.
The Hawks, Pacers and C's I'd give you, but not by much. I think you can make an argument that the Knicks have a better core in place than any of those guys.
Spurs
Cavs
Mavs
Hawks
Pacers
Celtics
I'm not getting into this vortex again. OF course there are better teams than the Knicks but Durant changes any team and if the Knicks could add 2-3 additional role players like Crawford they would be awesome next season. The celts are better because they have better role players. Role players can be had. Melo is also the best player on both teams right this very moment. Star power goes a long way in the NBA and role players can be had on the cheap.
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In comment 13010808 Jon in NYC said:
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many teams have a trio better than KP/Rose/Melo, have the cap room to sign noah, and have a massive hole at center where he'd be the obvious starter?
Jon,
You would really make the argument the Knicks would be on your short list if your #1 most important thing was winning? C'mon that is ridiculous. How about the Spurs for one? Quite a few contenders could use an upgrade at Center. Heck, the Heat sans Whiteside, the Mavs I could go on and on. The Knicks are not near being contenders and joining them because you value "winning" is farcical.
Do the Spurs have cap room to sign Noah?
I'd take the Knicks trio over the Heat without Whiteside. Same with the Mavs without Parsons (and Dirk for that matter).
Still waiting for a viable option for him other than the TWolves.
So Noah is really good (worthy of a large contract) but no other contender is "viable" in a league weak at C. That's a reasonable statement? The team you would pick based on winning being your #1 priority would be the current Knicks roster?
Durant probably doesn't come here but the Knicks are basically one big player away from 55-60 wins assuming they can fill out the back end of the rotation, which is pretty easy to do especially when the front end of the team is star studded.
Durant won't pass on the Knicks because they have no shot at winning with him.
Blaming a failed landing of Durant on Phil and conjuring up Riley's name as the better GM is just ridiculous. Riley went to Miami and inherited a well stocked franchise. Phil inherited Fallujah circa 2005.
Who is the 1 big player away that can bring a 32 win team to a 60 win team? Cuz Rose certainly is not elevating this team to any level, especially considering a big piece of that 32 win team is now gone. You guys remember a Derrick Rose that isn't around anymore. The Bulls didn't even make the playoffs this season with a much better roster then the Knicks have currently.
Quote:
teams than the Knicks with potential openings at C
Spurs
Cavs
Mavs
Hawks
Pacers
Celtics
I'm not getting into this vortex again. OF course there are better teams than the Knicks but Durant changes any team and if the Knicks could add 2-3 additional role players like Crawford they would be awesome next season. The celts are better because they have better role players. Role players can be had. Melo is also the best player on both teams right this very moment. Star power goes a long way in the NBA and role players can be had on the cheap.
? Why is Durant involved in this in any way? We are talking Noah choosing the Knicks because he values winning. Durant isn't here. I already said IF Durant were coming/signs here that 100% changes things and refutes my argument fully. CURRENTLY the Knicks roster is not one an older player joins based on "wanting to win" sorry.
Knicks will be better next season by accident as long as KP and Melo stay healthy. If they can add a guard who can defend capably and log 25 plus minutes a night they will be even better.
last season was a different kind of suck for the Knicks in my view. Not as dooming as year's past.
He's going to get paid through the nose to come to a market he enjoys, with a teammate he is close with and might turn down a little more money from a less appealing market/team. If you told me he turned down more from the Wizards? Sure I could buy it.
Like I said in an earlier post. A full year of Melo and KP playing 75 games at relative good health will go a long way. The C spot will be filled. Other role players can be had.
If you add Durant to this team I will gladly bet anyone that the Knicks win 55 without even knowing who is filling out the rest of the roster.
He's going to get paid through the nose to come to a market he enjoys, with a teammate he is close with and might turn down a little more money from a less appealing market/team. If you told me he turned down more from the Wizards? Sure I could buy it.
Unless KP takes a big jump, are the Knicks even a playoff team next season? And now that KP will end up being the 3rd option for some reason, how is he even going to take that jump?
Sure and he has ties to NYC, knows Rose well, likes to talk to the media, is into fashion and all of that NYC centric stuff. I get that. But if winning were truly priority #1 the Knicks would be very far down his list. These types of players might take "cheap" deals once the Lebron's and Durants are in place. They don't take that money because "in the future....". If priority #1 is winning, you sign with a team that has a shot to contend "right away". The Knicks sans Durant aren't that.
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In comment 13010813 DanMetroMan said:
Quote:
In comment 13010808 Jon in NYC said:
Quote:
many teams have a trio better than KP/Rose/Melo, have the cap room to sign noah, and have a massive hole at center where he'd be the obvious starter?
Jon,
You would really make the argument the Knicks would be on your short list if your #1 most important thing was winning? C'mon that is ridiculous. How about the Spurs for one? Quite a few contenders could use an upgrade at Center. Heck, the Heat sans Whiteside, the Mavs I could go on and on. The Knicks are not near being contenders and joining them because you value "winning" is farcical.
Do the Spurs have cap room to sign Noah?
I'd take the Knicks trio over the Heat without Whiteside. Same with the Mavs without Parsons (and Dirk for that matter).
Still waiting for a viable option for him other than the TWolves.
So Noah is really good (worthy of a large contract) but no other contender is "viable" in a league weak at C. That's a reasonable statement? The team you would pick based on winning being your #1 priority would be the current Knicks roster?
If I'm Noah, and I have the choice of playing with.
A. Rose/KP/Melo
B. George/?????
C. Isiah Thomas/Jae Crowder/Jared Sullinger
I know who I'm picking.
If the Spurs or Warriors clear cap space and make a push for Noah, I can see him going elsewhere. But until that happens, I like our odds.
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line, if Durant comes to the Knicks players would want to come here with the idea they could win a title as soon as this upcoming season. Sans Durant there is no such argument. The 2016-2017 Knicks will not be title contenders without Kevin Durant and will not have a high pick barring disaster. So, you are Joakim Noah and you are giving up your age 32 season with hopes the Knicks next off-season sign Russell Westbrook? That's your plan? No.
He's going to get paid through the nose to come to a market he enjoys, with a teammate he is close with and might turn down a little more money from a less appealing market/team. If you told me he turned down more from the Wizards? Sure I could buy it.
Unless KP takes a big jump, are the Knicks even a playoff team next season? And now that KP will end up being the 3rd option for some reason, how is he even going to take that jump?
I think the Knicks will challenge for the playoffs with even a moderately decent off-season. I say this because they likely win roughly "playoff amount" of wins if Melo doesn't miss so much time. Even if Rose is only "a little better" than Calderon that's still an upgrade. That said, barring some incredible off-season the Knicks will be far closer to the "batting for .500" type of goal team than a title contender. Let's be realistic.
Quote:
In comment 13010733 Deej said:
Quote:
is Durant resigns for a 1+1 and we attempt to impress him next offseason with an improved KP and either a healthy Rose or cap space for Westbrook. Though I think the idea of KD and RW pairing up again on another team is just odd unless it is a revolt against OKC's ownership.
It'd be pretty damn hard to, if he re-signs for a 1 year deal in OKC I think 60-65 wins is easily in play for them.
In play but I think unlikely. Cant project everyone to keep getting better. Im not convinced Adams will continue his playoffs breakout. Nor am I convinced that Oladipo is a good fit. Very good defender, but not much of a shooter and has been affirmatively bad off ball. That's why the Magic turned him into a 6th man (to get him away from Elf) and why I think they ultimately traded him.
But lets say you're right. He sees that now too. So there isnt an argument to get him to leave for NY. But if Rose is a 21-6 PG and KP looks like a guy still on the Dirk-or-better path, the Knicks have an argument next year. Right now, he comes here and we have no SG and no C and little $$ to spend. That's not a good argument.
Adams doesn't need to continue his playoff breakout to be an elite piece. He was a .155 WS/48 player and double double on a per 36 basis as a 22 year old. I think its not hard to see the trend go up for him. Also shot 61%.
Also disagree on Oladipo. He's improved his shooting %s across the board in every range category each year he's played in the league. If KD signs, this will give him the best spacing he's had throughout his career. He shot 40% from corner 3s. It didn't work out with Elf because Oladipo himself isn't a pure PG and Elf doesn't draw the double teams that would give Oladipo consistent open 3s. Even though westbrook can't shoot from 3s that well he is more than capable of getting his teammates open looks.
I just picture what would've happened if they had Oladipo instead of Roberson. He certainly spaces the floor more than Roberson and he is capable of attacking steph on PnRs if they switched Steph onto him. That's not completely fair as they had Ibaka and he played alright that series. But Ibaka has been on a clear decline, whether that's because the reports on him lying about his age are true or he has not adapted to his lesser role. He had a pretty mediocre (at best) season and that production is replaceable, whether they get Horford to fill in his role or a committee of Ersan, Mcgary, Adams, and Kanter can do it.
If Noah signs here great, hopefully he stays healthy and his deal is somewhat friendly.
I see people saying Durant won't come here because the Knicks have little to nothing to offer. I disagree. Durant is a game changer that elevates any team that has some important pieces in place and contrary to popular opinion I think the Knicks have important pieces in place. Melo is a made guy so to speak. KP is on his way. That's big.
Carl,
So if you were a soon to be 32 year old player. The current Knicks (which is what Noah wanting to join the Knicks is based on) would be your pick based on winning potential in the near future ie right away?
If Noah signs here great, hopefully he stays healthy and his deal is somewhat friendly.
I see people saying Durant won't come here because the Knicks have little to nothing to offer. I disagree. Durant is a game changer that elevates any team that has some important pieces in place and contrary to popular opinion I think the Knicks have important pieces in place. Melo is a made guy so to speak. KP is on his way. That's big.
My only point is claiming winning is most important is silly. If he signs with the Knicks winning wasn't the most important thing to him and that's fine.
You can't hedge on "barring no injuries" when Melo is getting less durable with age, and your two top acquisitions are guys with a proven track record of getting hurt. Noah's state of existence is 'nicked up'. These aren't opinions, you can just look up the games played for Rose and Noah. It's downright foolish to bank on that.
And at the same time all of us know he's not coming here.
not all of us.
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The Knicks, who announced Jeff Hornacek as head coach June 2, acquired former NBA MVP Derrick Rose in a trade with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. They had no picks in Thursday’s draft, so Randle will be one of several undrafted free agents on the Summer League team.
Randle said he’s worked to improve his shooting, ball-handling and finishing at the rim over the past year. With his previous experience with the Warriors’ Summer League team, he feels he has a more focused mindset as he tries again to earn a place in an NBA backcourt.
“Going in last year I was so happy to be part of Summer League,” Randle said. “Now, I’m kind of focusing on what it is to go beyond Summer League and try to go to training camp and make a team. I think I know the areas that I need to focus on and hopefully I can execute.”
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George is maybe two tiers ahead of Melo now.
KP is better than Turner but lets not discount Turner just to make the Knicks look like a better team. He's like a KP-lite, maybe even better on defense.
Ellis, Miles, Stuckey and Solomon Hill is better than any depth we can get this season.
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