NFT: State of the Knicks (after Durant)

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Find something else to do with your time for the next 20 years.

But there is no quick fix.

Knicks are cursed.

Unreal.

Absolutely unreal.

This is a total gut punch.

In comment 14468919 robbieballs2003 said:

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If his achilles is torn,he'll reup w/the Warriors. A year to rehab it! Now, I think the AD trade could either be ramped up by Knicks management or they try to sign Kawhi & Kyrie.I think signing those 2 is a longshot so barring that I think it's another year of rebuilding w/youth! 2 Knick dreams going into May. Zion/KD-both now gone! SMH

Get him this year....Davis next year.

And the young guys develop inuo studs

In comment 14468930 George from PA said:

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Get him this year....Davis next year. And the young guys develop inuo studs

AD will be traded this year-and only to a team that signs him long term.If they want him,they have to trade for him this season!

In comment 14468935 TheMick7 said:

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In comment 14468930 George from PA said: Quote: Get him this year....Davis next year. And the young guys develop inuo studs AD will be traded this year-and only to a team that signs him long term.If they want him,they have to trade for him this season!

Huh? AD clearly stated he will not be signing an extension until after next season if at all.

"Davis is now focused on the Lakers and Knicks as the two desired long-term destinations, league sources told The Athletic."

1. Sign Kd to 3 year deal with player option in year 3. Shows commitment by knicks to basically pay him to sit. This also allows them to eat up cap space and continue the rebuild and prob have another lottery year next year. Try to get Kawhi if you can if not then 1 year deals and only play young guys. It will be brutal but another year of development for these guys would be important

2. Forget signing KD and if you cannot get Kawhi just sign 1 year deals with players or make trades to get more picks for teams that need cap space. Hope that Davis goes to Boston and try to sign him and Kd in 2020 assuming that Kd is healthy.

This whole thing sucks but you cannot ware money in bad contracts.

stay the course and sign 1 year deals and lrt kids develop...

trade for davis and have him recruit a 2nd guy then surround them with talent, a trade for davis depending on how much is sent out leaves you with 55 million roughly...sign a 2nd guy and have 20 million left to spend..

In comment 14468937 robbieballs2003 said:

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In comment 14468935 TheMick7 said: Quote: In comment 14468930 George from PA said: Quote: Get him this year....Davis next year. And the young guys develop inuo studs AD will be traded this year-and only to a team that signs him long term.If they want him,they have to trade for him this season! Huh? AD clearly stated he will not be signing an extension until after next season if at all.

Can't believe any team would back up the truck for one year of AD. I've read articles where AD says he'd be willing to sign if traded to a team he wants to go to. Knicks & Lakers are reported as those 2 teams. Can't see Perry giving up everything w/o signing him. That being said,even if the trade is made,which FA would you try to sign to pair up w/him? Kawhi? sure but we've heard all along that he's a west coast guy & wanted to sign w/a Cali team.After that,Kyrie? Barring signing one of those 2,don't think it makes sense to use up your space for guys that might get you to the first round of the playoffs. All this hope that the Knicks might finally be a good team this season,died in a couple of seconds last night!

There is no quick fix coming, just have to hope some of these young players are decent. They are still in a better spot than they’ve been in for a long time at least they aren’t stuck with huge contracts.

probably tore his Achillies.

Just the Knicks luck. UFB.

In comment 14468949 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:

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probably tore his Achillies. Just the Knicks luck. UFB.

no the kjicks luck would of been to sign hik and he tore it after he signed...

In comment 14468949 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:

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probably tore his Achillies. Just the Knicks luck. UFB.

Could be worse. He could have torn it 3 months from now....

but not by trading them. And please no max contracts for Kemba Walker or any of those B-level superstars. Patience!

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Wow, the Knicks are cursed!

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While we keep drafting inside the top 5? Is that the plan now? Do we put all our eggs into Kyrie/AD and hope?

Can’t say I feel your pain. But Knicks can’t seem to catch a break.

they didn't clear 2 max slots out to have Kevin Knox play 35 minutes a night again. Like it or not they are going to turn over every stone to get 2 stars here.

I wonder if this could be the framework:

Knicks get: Anthony Davis

Pelicans get: Bradley Beal, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., two first rounders

Wizards get: the third overall pick, Frank Ntilikina

no idea what they should do now. Trading 90% of our assets for AD without knowing if we can at least get Kyrie as well is super risky. We could end up with AD and nothing else. And with AD the team will be just good enough to be picking at the end of the lottery. The FA class next year outside of AD isnt that great so getting him now and saving capspace for next year is an option but not a great one. If the knicks dont think they can get Kyrie or Kawhi i might hold off on the AD trade unless they can keep a few assets. I get that if you have a chance to get an AD you should, but im just not sure how you build a team around him unless a guy like DSJ all of a sudden makes huge strides or guys like Mitch (if we can keep him) turn out to be a star.

If he opts out. Whether or not that is a smart move is the question. I think it would be dumb considering his age and the injury but it’s not up to me.

for a one-year rental of AD, good as he is. If he doesn’t re-sign, which he’s free not to do, you have wasted everything.

and if they are id rather keep Beal at that cost.

That ask for NO is what they should be doing, but its also absurd. AD is amazing but you want an already all star, a young potential all star, and 2 firsts. Again you ask for the moon, but they cant actually expect to get that.

say we get Cousins and Kyrie? Is that so awful? we'd be a playoff team, adding RJ Barrett and keep the young guys. That team has a potential to really grow. This pipe dream of going from 17 wins to a title contender overnight was probably just that- a pipe dream.

I have respect for fans that are still positive but this is the worst possible outcome for the Knicks. I’d still sign him but I doubt he leaves.

If you have a chance to pair Davis with Kyrie, Kemba or even Butler, I’d go for it. But I am not as high on the Knicks young guys are others. If you want to wait around for them to turn the Knicks int contenders, you’ll be waiting awhile. I’d do everything I can to pair 2 all nba players in their 20s together.

But my guess now is Davis to the Lakers, Irving to Brooklyn, and Durant’s a warrior for life now.

So, the can't sit on the space. They could take on contracts for assets.

that the Knicks had a lot of options and contingency plans, but im guessing most of them involved KD being here first. I mean im sure they dont all, but the ones that made us a true contender overnight sure did. I mean you could still end up with Kawhi and AD which would make you a contender day 1, but we know Kawhi is a long shot. Even Kyrie and AD with a few other smart moves could make you a legit contender. I mean the east is still the east and Kawhi could end up back west.

Bob Meyers crying was fake as hell last noght? He knew damn well the warriors pushed kd to play and now he is going to sit there and cry because he got hurt?

I thinknit was all bullshit

In comment 14468982 Anakim said:

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I wonder if this could be the framework: Knicks get: Anthony Davis Pelicans get: Bradley Beal, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., two first rounders Wizards get: the third overall pick, Frank Ntilikina

Well thought out proposal.

In comment 14468988 Stu11 said:

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say we get Cousins and Kyrie? Is that so awful? we'd be a playoff team, adding RJ Barrett and keep the young guys. That team has a potential to really grow. This pipe dream of going from 17 wins to a title contender overnight was probably just that- a pipe dream.

I definitely thought how this could end up with increasing the odds that Boogie becomes a Knick. On one hand, that would feel alot like when we added Carmelo - fun, but we're not gonna win a lot of games. On the other, I really enjoy Boogie cousins and would probably buy his jersey.

like Durant wants to be out there as much as his team wanted him to be out there.

Nobody ever says that Willis Reed was forced to play by the Knicks (and he was ineffective). Nobody said TO was forced to play in the Super Bowl by the Eagles.

Top players want to play in big games.

It is an unfortunate injury and it probably happened because of compensating for the existing injury, but this wasn't like the RGIII situation.

In comment 14469003 Heisenberg said:

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In comment 14468988 Stu11 said: Quote: say we get Cousins and Kyrie? Is that so awful? we'd be a playoff team, adding RJ Barrett and keep the young guys. That team has a potential to really grow. This pipe dream of going from 17 wins to a title contender overnight was probably just that- a pipe dream. I definitely thought how this could end up with increasing the odds that Boogie becomes a Knick. On one hand, that would feel alot like when we added Carmelo - fun, but we're not gonna win a lot of games. On the other, I really enjoy Boogie cousins and would probably buy his jersey.

I think its different than the Carmelo situation because we keep all our assetts so we can really build a roster going fwd. That Dallas pick in 2 years can be a shot at the lottery.

1) draft Barrett
2) sign Walker or Irving
3) Keep developing young guys, roll over the max slot for 2020
4) Sign another star 2020 (possibly Durant if fully healthy but that's a risk)

In comment 14468999 nygiants16 said:

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Bob Meyers crying was fake as hell last noght? He knew damn well the warriors pushed kd to play and now he is going to sit there and cry because he got hurt? I thinknit was all bullshit

I like Meyers but I agree with this. They could have protected and treated Durant much better. The constant updates after every game instead of just ruling him out for the playoffs.

I don’t know anything about the injury but the weakened calf has to increase the chances of an Achilles tear. And I do wonder if Durant wasn’t a free agent they would have held him out and been more cautious.

In comment 14468989 TyreeHelmet said:

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I have respect for fans that are still positive but this is the worst possible outcome for the Knicks. I’d still sign him but I doubt he leaves. If you have a chance to pair Davis with Kyrie, Kemba or even Butler, I’d go for it. But I am not as high on the Knicks young guys are others. If you want to wait around for them to turn the Knicks int contenders, you’ll be waiting awhile. I’d do everything I can to pair 2 all nba players in their 20s together. But my guess now is Davis to the Lakers, Irving to Brooklyn, and Durant’s a warrior for life now.

Agreed. Somehow AD will end up in LA. Leonard either stays in Toronto if they win the Finals or goes to the Clippers. And obviously, KD likely won’t come here now. The worst thing the Knicks can do now is foolishly sign guys like Kemba and Khris Middleton to max money. The summer hasn’t even started yet, and the nightmare scenario has already played itself out: No Zion, No Durant.

They’re cursed.

I meant sign KD to 3 year deal with team option in year 3. You give him 2 guaranteed yeas vs. the 1 year of opting in with golden state so that benefits him. And he is out next year and you get a whole year to see how he comes back in 2020 season if he sucks then you can terminate his contract with a $5-$10 mil buyout. I think this would be fair for both sides.

Use remaining $40 million in cap space to sign the following players to 1 year over priced deals:

Danny green/Wes Matthews
Patrick Beverly
Deandre Jordan
Mario Hez

Nice mix of young guys and vets to hopefully have a somewhat competitive year. Hope that all young guys develop further.

Probably have another lottery pick and hope KD is 80-90 percent of what he was before in 2020 and make a run at AD as well.

bad? Walker is awesome.

In comment 14468999 nygiants16 said:

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Bob Meyers crying was fake as hell last noght? He knew damn well the warriors pushed kd to play and now he is going to sit there and cry because he got hurt? I thinknit was all bullshit

Yea, I think he should win an academy award for that performance!

That was he fakest thing I have seen. It was really uncomfortable to watch

Player but is not worth the contract cost. He is you third best player ona championship team, you don’t want him as your best player, that team will go nowhere.

In comment 14469019 GMEN46 said:

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Player but is not worth the contract cost. He is you third best player ona championship team, you don’t want him as your best player, that team will go nowhere.

This

and sign a 2md max and try to build a team that will keep them in playoff hunt until kd comes back..

I dont think this changes the Knicks thinking..

Let’s be honest, this plan was all about getting Durant. Especially after they lost out on Zion. Everything was contingent on getting Durant- trading for Davis, signing Kyrie or Kemba as number 2 or 3. Without Durant those scenarios are out the the window. Maybe they can still pair Davis with a max FA, but it feels inevitable he’ll be a Laker.

For those advocating a slow rebuild, this team is years away from respectability let alone being a contender. And with the new lottery odds, it’s very difficult to bank on top 5 picks.

Maybe it’s not torn or maybe the Knicks can sign Durant anyway and let him rehab a year. No better medical care in the world then NYC. But I bet he signs a max deal with the warriors or they tack onto his player option.

Who knows, maybe Perry can get Davis and build a contender without Durant. But the Knicks plan took a death blow last night.

keep all your assets even if we can't get Durant? It leaves us with a playoff team, and tons of assets and potential to get better.

I am rapidly warming up to no Durant, no AD, and building up this team from the ground up.

AD will cost too much for us to have a team left around him capable of winning a championship.

Durant may just re-up with the Warriors for a year, otherwise, I can just see it now: Knicks max him out, he sits for a while, and never fully returns to his old form while eating up our cap space.

Stay the course and build this up. Be smart with the cap space to keep options open for 2020 or 2021.

He's not in the same league as Durant, Davis or Irving.

The Knicks should not sign B level players to A level contracts. If Durant is off the table and it seems he is, then they just need to draft Barrett and build that way. They should take Galinari and his one bad year and get a couple of assets, things like that.

If they trade for AD and gut their team, they will be just like the Pelicans without Jrue Holiday, so they might want to avoid that trade too.

This is really a terrible turn of events as Durant should not have been playing, not sure if it was his ego or pressure from the team that drove him.

Don't see how that happens now.

Anyway, I would still pursue AD and take my shot at pairing him with the likes of a Kyrie, Kemba, Kawhi or maybe even a couple lower level guys like Tobias Harris.

This is just really, really bad luck though, no way around it. And I have to believe this jeopardizes the pursuit of AD who, I have a hunch included the Knicks because of KD signing here.

It sucks and it would be a major letdown but if they have to just stay the course and draft Barrett and hang on to their own draft hopes and the Dallas picks, so be it.

Anyone know what the 2020 draft prospects are looking like right now?

In comment 14469029 Tony in Berlin said:

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He's not in the same league as Durant, Davis or Irving.

I wouldn’t even want Kyrie to be the alpha on my team. Let him go to the Nets now.

I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model.

he could exercise the option, rehab, get paid and be a FA after next season.

We have a bunch of 7-23 and 9-27 shooting nights from Barrett to look forward to!

In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said:

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I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model.

What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow?

In comment 14469041 Greg from LI said:

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We have a bunch of 7-23 and 9-27 shooting nights from Barrett to look forward to!

And probably Knox as well.

To clarify: What the Nets have been doing this past season.

In comment 14469006 FatMan in Charlotte said:

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like Durant wants to be out there as much as his team wanted him to be out there. Nobody ever says that Willis Reed was forced to play by the Knicks (and he was ineffective). Nobody said TO was forced to play in the Super Bowl by the Eagles. Top players want to play in big games. It is an unfortunate injury and it probably happened because of compensating for the existing injury, but this wasn't like the RGIII situation.

Ineffective is in the eye of the beholder. Never heard Marv do play by play of warm ups until Game 7 when Willis came out,hit his first couple of shots & the entire Laker team stopped warming up & watched Willis. Game time-Willis comes down,hits his first 2 jumpers,ignites the Garden crowd to a fever pitch & Clyde takes over(36 points,19 Assists),Knicks win their first NBA Championship. Hell of an ineffective night for the Captain!

Option 1: trade for AD and hope that is enough to entice Kawhi is sign with the Knicks.

Option 2: start working trades to take on players with expiring deals or 2 year deals, plus multiple 1st rounders, to stockpile for later. Build around the young guys and looks to supplement with a star in a year or two- and get another high pick in 2020.

Option 1 only works if Kawhi decides to sign. The other FA are supplementary pieces, not alphas. You shouldn't use up cap space just because you have it on non-alphas. That's how they ended up where they are today by making bad choices in the 90's and early 2000s.

Option 2 could get you enough pieces to move up in future drafts. This draft is likely locked in at the top- and not enough guys who move the needle after that.

In comment 14469044 Tony in Berlin said:

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To clarify: What the Nets have been doing this past season.

but again all that stuff they did and they are in free agency or bust, they didnt build anything..

Marks who everyone loves had to use multiple draft picks to trade a contract he traded for and gave out...

if they want 2 max players they have to renounce half of their team, they didnt build anything if they are just tearing it down...

He was a chucker at Duke but he’s not a finished product, if Fizdale and staff do their jobs hopefully they can make him a better, more efficient player. I am definitely worried that he’ll be a high usage, low efficiency player who doesn’t win much but he deserves the benefit of the doubt for now.

He wants to be in NY so that is something at least.

But if we start throwing max $ at guys like Butler, Walker, Middleton...

(Shaking head.)

In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said:

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In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow?

that is incorrect. they have 2 picks this year- traded next years lottery protected. have levert and allen and rights to dlo--- basically a team that was the 6th seed and has cap space... and have a defined system and culture.

so actually they arent that. to get Next level... they might be that for this season. but that is just a lazy comment

In comment 14469038 arniefez said:

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he could exercise the option, rehab, get paid and be a FA after next season.

Look at the history of achilles injuries to star players- especially older ones. KD is already 31. Kobe was a little older- but never recovered his star ability.

Dominique Wilkins was diminished after tearing his at 31- though admittedly, he was all about athleticism anyway.

Elton Brand never recovered from the injury and was a role player upon his return.

KD might come back and be solid - but the explosiveness that allowed him to blow by guys on the drive and beat guys on the jumper will not be there anymore. He won't be a max FA guy anymore. He knows it, his agent knows it- which is why he was being described as "white as a sheet" after the game- and the Knicks know it.

They sign KD? While keeping essentially the same plan? Sign two max guys. Trade for AD. Hope those two can get you to the playoffs and KD can get healthy during the playoffs.

In comment 14469047 rich in DC said:

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Option 1: trade for AD and hope that is enough to entice Kawhi is sign with the Knicks. Option 2: start working trades to take on players with expiring deals or 2 year deals, plus multiple 1st rounders, to stockpile for later. Build around the young guys and looks to supplement with a star in a year or two- and get another high pick in 2020. Option 1 only works if Kawhi decides to sign. The other FA are supplementary pieces, not alphas. You shouldn't use up cap space just because you have it on non-alphas. That's how they ended up where they are today by making bad choices in the 90's and early 2000s. Option 2 could get you enough pieces to move up in future drafts. This draft is likely locked in at the top- and not enough guys who move the needle after that.

Because of all the bad basketball we had to suffer through, option 2 seems undesirable right now, but assuming neither of the 2 other alphas (Leonard and AD) come here, it’s probably the direction they have to choose.

In comment 14469061 hitdog42 said:

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In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow? that is incorrect. they have 2 picks this year- traded next years lottery protected. have levert and allen and rights to dlo--- basically a team that was the 6th seed and has cap space... and have a defined system and culture. so actually they arent that. to get Next level... they might be that for this season. but that is just a lazy comment

There whole plan revolves getting 2 max slots and if it wasnt the plan they would notnof made that trade...

They are not building around their current core that they acquired, they want to build around 2 max slots and will renounce russell if they can accomplish that...

How is it anything different then what the knicks plan this offseason is? knicks have the exact same plan

In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said:

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In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow?

The Nets are already a playoff team and they had some of their best players lose significant time to injury last year.

Their model is based around player development, and they did it so well that they've opened eyes around the league to a new path for sustainable success for a team.

and as much as I love Durant I would be very afraid signing him to a max deal basically just as he's suffered the injury. Huge gamble at his age.

In comment 14469064 Big Rick in FL said:

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They sign KD? While keeping essentially the same plan? Sign two max guys. Trade for AD. Hope those two can get you to the playoffs and KD can get healthy during the playoffs.

Why would you do that? KD is NOT going to be the same guy- look at what happened to Koba, Brant, and Wilkins after they tore their achilles. They were NEVER the same explosive star players again- they were good, but no longer great (though Brant was done after his).

If the Knicks want "ok", then go sign Kemba Walker and some other ok guys.

In comment 14469071 cactus said:

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In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow? The Nets are already a playoff team and they had some of their best players lose significant time to injury last year. Their model is based around player development, and they did it so well that they've opened eyes around the league to a new path for sustainable success for a team.

If it was about player development they would not be going after 2 max slots and trying to sign kyrie irving..

There plan is not player development, they developed russell and if they get 2 guys to come are going to renounce him, how is that player eevelopment..

need coffee

Can we please stop praising the Nets model? The Nets model unless they get lucky in free agency was never getting them past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I give them credit for getting through the worst trade of all time by Billy King, but they are a long way from a championship contender.

Marks has made a number of bad moves and got a couple of breaks when teams matched outrageous contracts. They have drafted ok.

He just traded 2 1st round picks to free up space for Kyrie Irving.

If we want to really praise a model for building a team, have to look at the 2 teams in the finals and other teams like Denver.

In comment 14469071 cactus said:

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In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow? The Nets are already a playoff team and they had some of their best players lose significant time to injury last year. Their model is based around player development, and they did it so well that they've opened eyes around the league to a new path for sustainable success for a team.

How did "we were a playoff team with our best players hurt" work for the celtics in 2019?

The nets dont have a "model".

I would only sign KD to a 3 year deal with the third year being a team option. Fair for both sides. Kd gets an extra guaranteed year and knicks get a look in year 2, if he stinks then you waive him with a buyout in year. At that point all of the young guys are in years 3 or 4. Another lottery pick next year and then 2021 you have 2 first rounders favoring in the dallas pick.

In comment 14469075 nygiants16 said:

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In comment 14469071 cactus said: Quote: In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow? The Nets are already a playoff team and they had some of their best players lose significant time to injury last year. Their model is based around player development, and they did it so well that they've opened eyes around the league to a new path for sustainable success for a team. If it was about player development they would not be going after 2 max slots and trying to sign kyrie irving.. There plan is not player development, they developed russell and if they get 2 guys to come are going to renounce him, how is that player development..

you are making zero sense- they built the team with picks and development. the key players for them are Levert and Allen, and maybe Dlo if they dont get the big upside play instead. they have kurucs, traded for prince (replacing carrol and dudley minutes). They have Harris and Dinwiddie who are very friendly deals and developed players.
there is literally nothing similar other than both teams conveniently having cap space and being in NY---

most of them pretty much involve drafting a generational talent Duncan, Lebron, Kobe, Dirk, KD etc.... and/or signing a huge FA Oneal, Lebron, KD, etc... Sure there are exceptions here like GSW who just did an amazing job of drafting (good luck replicating that). The two best options is to clear out all your cap to go for the hope and a prayer MIA model or suck for awhile to get top picks and hope you make the right ones.

I really dont have an issue with the Nets, but im not interested in following their model, which im not even sure what that model is. Make smart trades? Sure im down for that

Said throughout Durants rehab he felt discomfort pushing off, he was nowhere near 100 percent when he played and he felt bad about not playing and helping his teammates

often injured and being a shadow of himself when he's able to play. There's a time to be aggressive and a time to be conservative. In this situation, I'd be conservative.

Save the max slots for 2020...

And when you's crap out in 2020...

& the tank doesnt work due to the new lottery system...

it'll be save the max slots for 2021..

Hilarious..

I brought it up to emphasize player development. Not everyone agrees. But let's stick to to the Knicks.

I really feel he was misdiagnosed and had an Achilles from day one. I don’t see him going back to GS cause of that. They screwed him, cleared him, and who knows maybe recked his career. If we had a handshake with him we have to honor it in someway (maybe give him an announcer job for a year 😄) so doesn’t count against the CAP and sign him next year with space. Who knows. If the other players see us do the right thing it will go a long way in changing our rep as a disgruntled franchise. Just my thoughts.

In comment 14469075 nygiants16 said:

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In comment 14469071 cactus said: Quote: In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow? The Nets are already a playoff team and they had some of their best players lose significant time to injury last year. Their model is based around player development, and they did it so well that they've opened eyes around the league to a new path for sustainable success for a team. If it was about player development they would not be going after 2 max slots and trying to sign kyrie irving.. There plan is not player development, they developed russell and if they get 2 guys to come are going to renounce him, how is that player eevelopment..

Here is a potential ironic possibility.

Let's say that the Knicks don't get AD or Kawhi. That pursuit will take time. So, let's say we are now around July 3 or 4, and the Knicks have come up empty big game hunting.

Meanwhile, the Nets sign Kyrie and some other FA.

I think it would be a good idea at that point for the Knicks to reach out to Russell. He's only 23, which puts him closer in age to the Knicks core guys. Sure, he's a volume scorer- but he is also a willing passer. He has played under the "big lights" in LA.

If the Nets signed 2 big FA, they probably have to renounce Russell or refuse to match a big offer to the RFA.

That should set up the Knicks PG, give them a pair of young F (Knox and Barrett) to work with and a shot-blocking big (Robinson).

That would also leave significant cap space to make deals with. The Knicks could take on a big expiring deal in exchange for some draft picks.

Just an example (I am NOT syaing they should do this- this is only for illustrative purposes)- Boston could send Horford and the 2020 Memphis 1st rounder, plus Boston's own 1st rounder in 2020 to the Knicks for whatever filler Boston wants (such as Mudiay or Frank) the idea being to fee cap space for Boston to pursue a big man in a trade or FA.

Another example, if the Clippers are able to convince Kawhi and a second FA to go there, they might want to free up some cap space by dealing Gallinari. They could send Gallinari and Miami's 2021 1st rounder and Philly's 2020 1st rounder to the Knicks for filler- again, the idea being to free cap space.

Yet another- Houston might want to reduce its luxury tax burden- or even get under the tax- by trading Gordon. The Knicks could play the "long game" by asking for future 1sts from Houston- who may only be a contender for a couple more years. Perhaps Houston sends Gordon and its 2021 and 2023 first (unprotected, or at least only top 5 protected) to the Knicks for filler.

ok but what choice do we have?

In comment 14469098 Carl in CT said:

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I really feel he was misdiagnosed and had an Achilles from day one. I don’t see him going back to GS cause of that. They screwed him, cleared him, and who knows maybe recked his career. If we had a handshake with him we have to honor it in someway (maybe give him an announcer job for a year 😄) so doesn’t count against the CAP and sign him next year with space. Who knows. If the other players see us do the right thing it will go a long way in changing our rep as a disgruntled franchise. Just my thoughts.

He's going to opt into his $31M option with GS. If there are any hard feelings, that's his revenge- use up big space on a guy who won't be able to play until the playoffs- if at all- next season. No one is going to give him $31M to sit next season.

In comment 14469085 hitdog42 said:

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In comment 14469075 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469071 cactus said: Quote: In comment 14469042 nygiants16 said: Quote: In comment 14469037 Tony in Berlin said: Quote: I feel the same way. Love what the Nets are doing regarding team building. I wish the Knicks would follow that model. What Nets model? they are free agency or bust, that is the model you want to follow? The Nets are already a playoff team and they had some of their best players lose significant time to injury last year. Their model is based around player development, and they did it so well that they've opened eyes around the league to a new path for sustainable success for a team. If it was about player development they would not be going after 2 max slots and trying to sign kyrie irving.. There plan is not player development, they developed russell and if they get 2 guys to come are going to renounce him, how is that player development.. you are making zero sense- they built the team with picks and development. the key players for them are Levert and Allen, and maybe Dlo if they dont get the big upside play instead. they have kurucs, traded for prince (replacing carrol and dudley minutes). They have Harris and Dinwiddie who are very friendly deals and developed players. there is literally nothing similar other than both teams conveniently having cap space and being in NY---

How is this any different than what the Knicks are doing? Basically their entire roster is guys that they drafted ( Knox, Robinson, Trier, Dotson, Ntilikina) our young players they are hoping to develop (Smith Jr). The only difference is that the Nets hit the reset button earlier than the Knicks did so their players are a couple of years older and further along in their development.

Just like the Nets, they will take their shot in free agency this summer because the opportunity is there.

In comment 14469084 GMEN46 said:

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I would only sign KD to a 3 year deal with the third year being a team option. Fair for both sides. Kd gets an extra guaranteed year and knicks get a look in year 2, if he stinks then you waive him with a buyout in year. At that point all of the young guys are in years 3 or 4. Another lottery pick next year and then 2021 you have 2 first rounders favoring in the dallas pick.

Why would KD agree to that deal? There is no upside for him- he's already 31. He's not going to take a "make or break" deal at this point.

He's going to opt into the $31M option with GS, rehab completely- doubt he even thinks about taking the court until he's fully healthy- and try and return for the playoffs next year.

If KD loses his lateral agility, he's a much diminished player. He doesn't have the body to go low full time, and his parameter game is greatly benefited by the threat of him going to the hoop.

I'd also be nervous about a guy that tall and lanky and the related effects to his knees and feet if he's compensating.

It's a terrible and unfortunate injury. My favorite player of his generation. A major cautionary tale on 1) skipping a long-term max 2) taking less for the team.

have been doing. Pick good players, develop them, play smart two way basketball - These things are called having a functional basketball operation and neither team has a long history of success of that. The Knicks are just behind the Nets on a similar timeline.

And they just became desperate.
This will be a Trainwreck, they have proven to never have a plan B unless you consider panic a plan b.
Let the stupid mistakes start.
Another 10 years of bad basketball.

Also Isiah Thomas said with his Achilles injury it was a small tear and the doctors basically said it would completely tear at some point but they couldn't say how long.
So you get healthy and plan for it but it would never heal.
Ticking time bomb.

I know the track record of guys coming back from this injury in the past hasn't been great, but it does seem that there have been some advancements in recent years that have made it a bit easier for the more recent guys.

The closest example would be Cousins. Granted he is clearly still not back to 100%, but a lot of his issues in the post season have seemed to be more related to conditioning. He played 30 games for the Warriors this year, and was pretty damn effective for them. On a per 36 basis his numbers were right in line with his career averages. You would expect the further removed he gets from the injury the better he will be.

Another recent example is Rudy Gay. He injured his Achilles during the 16-17 season, and has played 2 seasons for San Antonio since and has been very effective for them. Granted, his role is different for them than it has been in previous places he has played so his scoring is down, but again on a per 36 basis his numbers are as good or better than his career averages.

So yes this is a huge setback for Durant, and absolutely the worst case scenario for him, but there are signs that he can make a close to full recovery from this injury.

In comment 14469121 Mike in NJ said:

Quote:

I know the track record of guys coming back from this injury in the past hasn't been great, but it does seem that there have been some advancements in recent years that have made it a bit easier for the more recent guys. The closest example would be Cousins. Granted he is clearly still not back to 100%, but a lot of his issues in the post season have seemed to be more related to conditioning. He played 30 games for the Warriors this year, and was pretty damn effective for them. On a per 36 basis his numbers were right in line with his career averages. You would expect the further removed he gets from the injury the better he will be. Another recent example is Rudy Gay. He injured his Achilles during the 16-17 season, and has played 2 seasons for San Antonio since and has been very effective for them. Granted, his role is different for them than it has been in previous places he has played so his scoring is down, but again on a per 36 basis his numbers are as good or better than his career averages. So yes this is a huge setback for Durant, and absolutely the worst case scenario for him, but there are signs that he can make a close to full recovery from this injury.

These are much better guys to look at for a timetable and how they look after. No clue why people are using Wilkins like 25-30 years ago as an example.

In comment 14469121 Mike in NJ said:

Quote:

I know the track record of guys coming back from this injury in the past hasn't been great, but it does seem that there have been some advancements in recent years that have made it a bit easier for the more recent guys. The closest example would be Cousins. Granted he is clearly still not back to 100%, but a lot of his issues in the post season have seemed to be more related to conditioning. He played 30 games for the Warriors this year, and was pretty damn effective for them. On a per 36 basis his numbers were right in line with his career averages. You would expect the further removed he gets from the injury the better he will be. Another recent example is Rudy Gay. He injured his Achilles during the 16-17 season, and has played 2 seasons for San Antonio since and has been very effective for them. Granted, his role is different for them than it has been in previous places he has played so his scoring is down, but again on a per 36 basis his numbers are as good or better than his career averages. So yes this is a huge setback for Durant, and absolutely the worst case scenario for him, but there are signs that he can make a close to full recovery from this injury.

The problem with this argument is that teams would be paying KD to be a star difference maker, not a role player. The two guys (Gay and Cousins) are role players.

The big difference between being a star and just another guy is the quick twitch ability to get to the basket or beat a guy off the shot. Tearing the achilles takes away a lot of that quickness- which diminishes a superstar player like KD to just another good player.

Think of it this way. Before the injury, would you have preferred KD or Tobias Harris? of course you would have chosen KD.

However, after the injury, the gap between Harris and KD has been reduced. Add in that KD is 31- and will be 32 before he even plays again. I am not saying KD falls to Harris' leve- but the gap is no longer large.

The lure of what KD could have brought is now gone. Time to let go and move on.

In comment 14468935 TheMick7 said:

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In comment 14468930 George from PA said: Quote: Get him this year....Davis next year. And the young guys develop inuo studs AD will be traded this year-and only to a team that signs him long term.If they want him,they have to trade for him this season!

Really getting aggressive with the exclamation points, huh?

In comment 14469127 Big Rick in FL said:

Quote:

In comment 14469121 Mike in NJ said: Quote: I know the track record of guys coming back from this injury in the past hasn't been great, but it does seem that there have been some advancements in recent years that have made it a bit easier for the more recent guys. The closest example would be Cousins. Granted he is clearly still not back to 100%, but a lot of his issues in the post season have seemed to be more related to conditioning. He played 30 games for the Warriors this year, and was pretty damn effective for them. On a per 36 basis his numbers were right in line with his career averages. You would expect the further removed he gets from the injury the better he will be. Another recent example is Rudy Gay. He injured his Achilles during the 16-17 season, and has played 2 seasons for San Antonio since and has been very effective for them. Granted, his role is different for them than it has been in previous places he has played so his scoring is down, but again on a per 36 basis his numbers are as good or better than his career averages. So yes this is a huge setback for Durant, and absolutely the worst case scenario for him, but there are signs that he can make a close to full recovery from this injury. These are much better guys to look at for a timetable and how they look after. No clue why people are using Wilkins like 25-30 years ago as an example.

Please.

There has been no magic cure for an achilles tear. Let's not pretend that KD is going to come back as a superstar because we are trying to cope with bad news.

An achilles tear is a MAJOR issue for a basketball player- especially one who is already 31 and will be 32 before he ever plays again.

There is no good news here. I would suggest we stop pretending there is.

Go all out for Kawhi. Save the remaining cap space for summer of 2020
Keep and develop their young players
Draft Barrett

Achilles is torn then I am not sure anymore. He may never regain that explosiveness again. Now he has a decision, does he opt into his 31 mil and stay in GS, rehab and hopefully come back and be somewhat near what he was? Does he still try to come to the Knicks, maybe at a lower rate then the Max deal, this way he can begin his ventures in NY which he has rumored to be setting up for a while?

the only sensible option is to draft Barrett and take on some bad deals for current and future (unprotected) picks.

this is a really unfortunate hit to the offseason mojo, even if Durant was far from a lock for NYK.

Perhaps Durant reads a lot of posts from Knicks fans who convert his injury into an opportunity to only feel sorry for themselves, along with accusations of Bob Myers (who he and Kleiman love) faking his press conference emotions, and then simply says, "Fuck these guys, I'm not gonna play for their team."

the kids a winner and he's performed in the garden before... wouldn't mind kemba on the knicks

In comment 14469146 bigbluehoya said:

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the only sensible option is to draft Barrett and take on some bad deals for current and future (unprotected) picks. this is a really unfortunate hit to the offseason mojo, even if Durant was far from a lock for NYK.

I am with you, draft Barrett, go hard after Kawhi (Offer him his own MSG show etc etc) and entice him with either a second star or some lesser players like Danny Green etc. If he is unwilling to come, take on contracts and acquire future picks

In comment 14469152 santacruzom said:

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Perhaps Durant reads a lot of posts from Knicks fans who convert his injury into an opportunity to only feel sorry for themselves, along with accusations of Bob Myers (who he and Kleiman love) faking his press conference emotions, and then simply says, "Fuck these guys, I'm not gonna play for their team."

It's not only Knicks fans who think Bob Myers was faking it, its the whole goddamn internet and every damn sports radio show out there

In comment 14469152 santacruzom said:

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Perhaps Durant reads a lot of posts from Knicks fans who convert his injury into an opportunity to only feel sorry for themselves, along with accusations of Bob Myers (who he and Kleiman love) faking his press conference emotions, and then simply says, "Fuck these guys, I'm not gonna play for their team."

Knicks fans will be suffering long after KD is given a clean bill of health. He hasn't been diagnosed with a terminal illness - just surgery (most likely) to repair a torn tendon. He's still a young, millionaire athlete with rings and MVPs.

crying? I think his emotions were legit. He probably feels horrible for what happened to KD & his hand in it.

and should have been the plan all along.

If you can run a Kawhi/AD/Robinson front court, that is a hell of a start to a great defensive team and still pretty good offensively.

did you watch Barrett play at Duke? I wouldn't call him a chucker in the slightest. He averaged 23 points a game on 18 shots. That's a decently good number at 18 years old.

In comment 14469159 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:

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crying? I think his emotions were legit. He probably feels horrible for what happened to KD & his hand in it.

feeling guilty yes, i dknt think he felt bad

In comment 14469153 Platos said:

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the kids a winner and he's performed in the garden before... wouldn't mind kemba on the knicks

Most of these kids were winners in college. In the pros?? He's been to the playoffs 2 times and hasn't yet won a series.

heard in a long time.

I think KD being broke down and lame substantially increases the likelihood of the Knicks signing him to a long term free agent mega deal.

Anyhow, the state of the Knicks remains unchanged; they’re gonna be a joke as long as JD & The Straight Shot is playing at the World’s Most Dysfunctional Arena.

Then a roster of scrubs and those three would still be a legit contender.

Gutting your roster for AD, without another star, much less two, makes no sense. If NO wants a deal before draft and free agency, screw them.

And I don’t want to give max contracts to anyone other than Klay or Kawhi, but we know they are not coming. No one is coming here by himself except as part of an ensemble. KD was the only one to do that but now that dream is gone too.

Just build through the draft. I hope they don’t feel the need to make a splash because they traded away KP.

In comment 14469000 Pep22 said:

Quote:

In comment 14468982 Anakim said: Quote: I wonder if this could be the framework: Knicks get: Anthony Davis Pelicans get: Bradley Beal, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., two first rounders Wizards get: the third overall pick, Frank Ntilikina Well thought out proposal.

Thank you

In comment 14469109 Heisenberg said:

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have been doing. Pick good players, develop them, play smart two way basketball - These things are called having a functional basketball operation and neither team has a long history of success of that. The Knicks are just behind the Nets on a similar timeline.

Exactly. Basing your model on player development does not preclude you from going after premier FA's. You need a superstar to win, and you have to get damn luck y to find one in the draft. Draft good players and develop them to make your team attractive to potential FA's.

This may just be a blessing in disguise. We should be in on the youth movement still and not some expedient hope that we can land 3 of the top 10 available stars and win next year. That was always a pipedream.

Back to the grind for the FO. They've been doing fine under this new leadership. And RJ Barrett looks like a stud. We likely get the two firsts from DAL after the lottery too. We could be worse off. We could still have THJ and Burke playing 30 minutes a piece and a rape-y KP not willing to extend.

#TrustTheProcess

In comment 14469184 Anakim said:

Quote:

In comment 14469000 Pep22 said: Quote: In comment 14468982 Anakim said: Quote: I wonder if this could be the framework: Knicks get: Anthony Davis Pelicans get: Bradley Beal, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., two first rounders Wizards get: the third overall pick, Frank Ntilikina Well thought out proposal. Thank you

Why would DC do that? Beal is better than the 3rd pick in the draft. Unless someone is willing to take Wall, DC is not dealing Beal.

person who doesn't think the plan should change. KD having this at 30 is different than Kobe having it at 35. KD is also a far less explosive athlete than Kobe, and his shooting based game should age well.

In comment 14469200 Jon in NYC said:

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person who doesn't think the plan should change. KD having this at 30 is different than Kobe having it at 35. KD is also a far less explosive athlete than Kobe, and his shooting based game should age well.

I think a lot of people are just not expecting KD to hit FA is the thing. If he did, I don't know how many would be opposed now... you might be right.

Not just the Knicks. I've read today if he opts in with GS it makes it more difficult for them to do a legit deal with Klay, no strings attached. Probably pushes Davis more towards Lakers, and in that regard one has to wonder if Kyrie will now be open to the Lakers as well if AD went there. And if Durant decides to stay with GS long-term post injury what does that do for Green who's contract is up soon as well. The shoe companies must be losing their shit over this. You just know they had the marketing plans ready to go for these players and their new locations.

It's pretty incredibly actually when you think how one moment in time may have such a big effect on the entire coming 5 or 6 years in the league.

In comment 14469200 Jon in NYC said:

Quote:

person who doesn't think the plan should change. KD having this at 30 is different than Kobe having it at 35. KD is also a far less explosive athlete than Kobe, and his shooting based game should age well.

i would still do it, you have room for 2 maxes, that 2nd max with the vet signings to surround him should be able to make this team a playoff team and give kd time to rehab and get right and come back 100 for the laat coupldnof months of season and be ready for playoffs

This is brutal, but it’s honest...

No one wants to see Kd hurt. But once he got hurt last month, last night may have been the best possible outcome for the Knicks. Everyone knew KD was coming. Everyone.

But

Last month, once he got hurt - Last night was inevitable. Whether it happened last night. October. Or next April. It was happening. For the Knicks, it was best to happen BEFORE they signed him, not after.

As brutal as last night was for KD personally. As much as it blows up the Knicks plans. Be glad it happened, when it happened. As terrible as that sounds.

can they still re-sign Klay?

If not, then the plan should be Kawhi/Klay.

Before everyone lost their mind.Build through the draft,and if possible acquire more picks.Because RJ Barrett alone isn't gonna save jobs.

In comment 14469207 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

In comment 14469200 Jon in NYC said: Quote: person who doesn't think the plan should change. KD having this at 30 is different than Kobe having it at 35. KD is also a far less explosive athlete than Kobe, and his shooting based game should age well. i would still do it, you have room for 2 maxes, that 2nd max with the vet signings to surround him should be able to make this team a playoff team and give kd time to rehab and get right and come back 100 for the laat coupldnof months of season and be ready for playoffs

The Knicks signing KD after a major injury would be the most Knicksy move possible. Right in line with all the other post injury stars we have had over the years...McDyess, Penny, Stoudemire, Noah, Rose, etc.

I reserve the right to change my mind 15x about this before July 1st.

In comment 14469200 Jon in NYC said:

Quote:

person who doesn't think the plan should change. KD having this at 30 is different than Kobe having it at 35. KD is also a far less explosive athlete than Kobe, and his shooting based game should age well.

This was kind of my first thought. Maybe this can make Durant 100% when who knows if he was before. I think if you can make the AD trade you do it. Durant can definitely be a #2 when he gets back.

This Leonard talk is laughable. Why is he coming to the Knicks- the worst team in the league? And please spare me the uncle talk- he has zero ties to the knicks. And same applies for Thompson- zero chance he’s coming to the Knicks.

I would still sign Durant even with the torn Achilles. To me the risk outweighs the rewards to get him for 3 years even if he “redshirts” his first year rehabbing. Still use the remaining cap space to sign Kemba or multiple good players.

What this really changes is the AD trade. I would be very worried emptying the cupboard and having him walk at the end of the year because Durant is our for next year. And I am not high on the Knicks young players.

John Wall is going to miss at least almost two full seasons, an injury that has completed eliminated the Wizards from competing for years since Wall got a max deal.

Would be insane, had he arrived healthy this summer you’re probably buying 1-2 iffy seasons in exchange for 3 (hopefully) late-prime, superstar level seasons.

Signing him now the best case scenario is he’s like 80-90% of what he was in two years? And then he’s 33 years old.

The Knicks don’t have a lot to lose, in that respect I would understand it. But it’s a very risky move. Given that they have a roster full of 18-25 year olds I think the right move is to focus on a slow rebuild. They have picks in future years, develop the roster and see what unfolds. I know it’s a tough sell because everyone was counting on a complete overhaul but I think it is the smart route to go.

Why move to a shit weather loser?

I am looking forward to the constant recalibration of best remaining outcomes until the only one left is tank again / youth movement. Fuck basketball.

the Knicks get Leonard there is probably 0.001% chance they get Klay. Klay is a west coast kid through and through, no chance he comes to New York.

But still, you’re writing off the first year, the second will probably be a far cry from vintage KD, so you’re hoping he recaptures form at age 33-34? I don’t see it.

This scenario is now making its rounds, that the Knicks will still try to sign Durant, not use their other max slot on a free agent, draft Barrett and take another year of player development. They could have 2 high picks in the following draft, which is deeper for trades and etc.

I think we are in for another year of "player development."

I'm actually fine with this scenario.

the landscape of the NBA I think it's likely that even a healthy KD/AD squad would struggle.

I do like the idea of an uber athletic DSJ-Barrett-Knox-Mitch core while staying flexible with picks. Get another top pick next year, shoot for KD/AD in free agency next year after KD opts in/has healed and AD is unrestricted? They should still have plenty of cap space assuming they spend wisely.

a barebones KD/AD squad, assuming they'd have to trade away basically everything for Davis.

In comment 14469339 Pete44 said:

Quote:

This scenario is now making its rounds, that the Knicks will still try to sign Durant, not use their other max slot on a free agent, draft Barrett and take another year of player development. They could have 2 high picks in the following draft, which is deeper for trades and etc. I think we are in for another year of "player development." I'm actually fine with this scenario.

This makes the most sense to me. Zero pressure for Durant to rush back, the Knicks will have all of their assets in case a guy from a loaded 2021 FA class winds up available via trade. At that point the Dallas pick will have more value than it does today since it'll be coming up sooner and the Knicks will know better what they have in Barrett, Knox, etc by then vs today. I also think the KD injury makes it more likely that a team like Denver or Portland steps up and winds the AD trade sweepstakes seeing a window open to go for it next year. In that case, it's possible AD is available as a FA and they could potentially sign him in a year.

Durant is headed to new york for further evaluation

In comment 14469339 Pete44 said:

Quote:

This scenario is now making its rounds, that the Knicks will still try to sign Durant, not use their other max slot on a free agent, draft Barrett and take another year of player development. They could have 2 high picks in the following draft, which is deeper for trades and etc. I think we are in for another year of "player development." I'm actually fine with this scenario.

I also don't hate this. Maybe they still try to get Kawhi, but if they can't, stay flexible and go for it again in 2021 with a mostly healed Durant and room for another max (AD being the obvious target).

In comment 14469346 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

Durant is headed to new york for further evaluation

Sorry i'm on a rapid fire post thing here, but another thought that crossed my mind:

Knicks may make even more sense for KD now if he can get superior medical care here. I mean Kawhi rehabbed in NY too, so it's not like it's a prerequisite, but it certainly ties it into a nice little bow if he rehabs by his home.

In comment 14469339 Pete44 said:

Quote:

This scenario is now making its rounds, that the Knicks will still try to sign Durant, not use their other max slot on a free agent, draft Barrett and take another year of player development. They could have 2 high picks in the following draft, which is deeper for trades and etc. I think we are in for another year of "player development." I'm actually fine with this scenario.

I’m fine with this while leaving the possibility of Davis as a FA in 2020. To me the risk with Durant is well worth it. Even if he’s reaching 90%, that’s still a top 10-15 player in the league ages 32 to 34. This is an all time player we are talking about.

as you could end up getting another top 5 pick. Plus as others have said it gives a year of player development for Knox, RJ, Mitch, etc.. that said you have to hope that KD can come back the same.

In comment 14468999 nygiants16 said:

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Bob Meyers crying was fake as hell last noght? He knew damn well the warriors pushed kd to play and now he is going to sit there and cry because he got hurt? I thinknit was all bullshit

You’re the second person to speculate on this. No, I think you and WFAN’s Gio are both reaching.

I do not think that will happen at all

In comment 14469368 Heisenberg said:

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I do not think that will happen at all

Actually, that's a very Knicks thing to do. Scott Layden would be drooling over that scenario

In comment 14469346 nygiants16 said:

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Durant is headed to new york for further evaluation

I actually know where his doctor is located. I've seen jerseys of Durant (and other athletes) at the office.

In comment 14469361 djm said:

Quote:

In comment 14468999 nygiants16 said: Quote: Bob Meyers crying was fake as hell last noght? He knew damn well the warriors pushed kd to play and now he is going to sit there and cry because he got hurt? I thinknit was all bullshit You’re the second person to speculate on this. No, I think you and WFAN’s Gio are both reaching.

every person on the tv has speculated this..

In comment 14469346 nygiants16 said:

Quote:

Durant is headed to new york for further evaluation

Does this suggest it could be a partial tear? If it's a full tear, it's pretty easy to diagnose and the only option is surgery. It's possible he's flying to NY to have the surgery but wouldn't news of the MRI results have come out by now?

Note: I realize it's a long shot but it's a dark day for a Knicks fan so I'm okay grasping for straws.

The doctor that Durant is probably seeing is only a couple of blocks away from where Kyrie was a couple of days ago.

In comment 14469394 Anakim said:

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The doctor that Durant is probably seeing is only a couple of blocks away from where Kyrie was a couple of days ago.

HSS right? I was there a few years ago when I tore my shoulder labrum and there was a Nets player there for a knee injury.

In comment 14469368 Heisenberg said:

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I do not think that will happen at all

You’re doing that to get him for the other 3 years. If I’m the Knicks I do this without hesitation. What’s the alternative?

In comment 14469395 Strahan91 said:

Quote:

In comment 14469394 Anakim said: Quote: The doctor that Durant is probably seeing is only a couple of blocks away from where Kyrie was a couple of days ago. HSS right? I was there a few years ago when I tore my shoulder labrum and there was a Nets player there for a knee injury.

Yep. I live near and there's an office I pass pretty frequently that has jerseys of Durant, Brett Favre, Tyson Chandler (and others) hanging in plain view for all to see.

and “hoping” he comes back as a max type player is the same dumb shit that’s been going on with the Knicks for 20 yrs. It’s a panic move. They need patience. Guys line Knox, Robinson and Barrett (assuming he’s the pick) are so young there’s no way to know what their ceilings are. For all we know, they could have 2 stars already that need to be developed. Hopefully they look at it that way. Take on short term contracts to acquire more assets, then when the right deal comes along they can jump on it. What has killed them is signing B level players to A level contracts. Sadly, KD just became a B level player.

In comment 14469400 Dave on the UWS said:

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and “hoping” he comes back as a max type player is the same dumb shit that’s been going on with the Knicks for 20 yrs. It’s a panic move. They need patience. Guys line Knox, Robinson and Barrett (assuming he’s the pick) are so young there’s no way to know what their ceilings are. For all we know, they could have 2 stars already that need to be developed. Hopefully they look at it that way. Take on short term contracts to acquire more assets, then when the right deal comes along they can jump on it. What has killed them is signing B level players to A level contracts. Sadly, KD just became a B level player.

How does signing Durant effect guus development?

you sign him to 4 yeara you get to oversee his entire rehab for a year and you have a star player on your roster to go recruit

of the player he was prior to the injury, that would still make him a top ~15 player in the league.

In comment 14469339 Pete44 said:

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This scenario is now making its rounds, that the Knicks will still try to sign Durant, not use their other max slot on a free agent, draft Barrett and take another year of player development. They could have 2 high picks in the following draft, which is deeper for trades and etc. I think we are in for another year of "player development." I'm actually fine with this scenario.

If fans were ok with the idea of KP sitting out the year for ACL recovery, everyone should be on board with this plan as well.

If KD opts out, sign him long term and let the young kids play and then add another FA and top 10 pick in summer of 2020 plus a healthy KD

NBA Central
@TheNBACentral

The Atlanta Hawks have been exploring possibilities to trade up to draft Jarrett Culver, per
@SInow



Remember there was that blurb about the Knicks trading down with the Hawks...And now the Hawks have three first rounders.

next year? Let’s take on all the bad contracts for picks.

As long as this doesn’t push Klay into Lakers’ lap.

In comment 14469396 TyreeHelmet said:

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In comment 14469368 Heisenberg said: Quote: I do not think that will happen at all You’re doing that to get him for the other 3 years. If I’m the Knicks I do this without hesitation. What’s the alternative?

The alternative is not paying him 38 million dollars. Let the Warriors pay him. I mean, paying him 160M dollars knowing that you will at best get 3 years of unknown ability from him is pretty risky. I mean, it's James Dolan's money so I don't really care, but that's a lot to ask a business to do.

And my God, did RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish completely suck. They were horrible all game. Culver completely outplayed Barrett.

In comment 14469263 TyreeHelmet said:

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This Leonard talk is laughable. Why is he coming to the Knicks- the worst team in the league? And please spare me the uncle talk- he has zero ties to the knicks. And same applies for Thompson- zero chance he’s coming to the Knicks. I would still sign Durant even with the torn Achilles. To me the risk outweighs the rewards to get him for 3 years even if he “redshirts” his first year rehabbing. Still use the remaining cap space to sign Kemba or multiple good players. What this really changes is the AD trade. I would be very worried emptying the cupboard and having him walk at the end of the year because Durant is our for next year. And I am not high on the Knicks young players.

Not laughable at all. The Knicks will be getting a sit down with Leonard and he could be persuaded to sign here.

the plague at this point. Let someone else pay all that money for 2-3 years of uncertainty. You can still try for the miracle Kawhi/Davis combo, but outside of that they should be careful with their money. I could maybe be talked into Tobias Harris since he's still in his prime and/or making a play for Russell if the Nets go with Kyrie and others, but I only want youngish free agent types. Avoid Butler and the like.

In comment 14469396 TyreeHelmet said:

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In comment 14469368 Heisenberg said: Quote: I do not think that will happen at all You’re doing that to get him for the other 3 years. If I’m the Knicks I do this without hesitation. What’s the alternative?

if he's not the same guy you've just killed your cap for 3-4 years. Ask the Wizards how they're feeling these days about their cap situation.

In comment 14469400 Dave on the UWS said:

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and “hoping” he comes back as a max type player is the same dumb shit that’s been going on with the Knicks for 20 yrs. It’s a panic move. They need patience. Guys line Knox, Robinson and Barrett (assuming he’s the pick) are so young there’s no way to know what their ceilings are. For all we know, they could have 2 stars already that need to be developed. Hopefully they look at it that way. Take on short term contracts to acquire more assets, then when the right deal comes along they can jump on it. What has killed them is signing B level players to A level contracts. Sadly, KD just became a B level player.

Even with this injury ( if it is that) you really think Kevin Durant is a b level player? Have fun being patient waiting for Knox to not be bad let alone good. I'll roll the dice on a top 20 player of all time. This isn't an all star level player we are talking about, its Kevin Durant.

I get that its a bad injury, but he's still only 30 and he can recover from it as other players have. Even if he's only 80-85% of what he was, sign me up for 3 years of that.

AD might change his thinking about waiting another year before signing a long term contract

to trade for Davis without signing him long term? Come on not even the Knicks are that dumb.

In comment 14469347 Jon in NYC said:

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In comment 14469339 Pete44 said: Quote: This scenario is now making its rounds, that the Knicks will still try to sign Durant, not use their other max slot on a free agent, draft Barrett and take another year of player development. They could have 2 high picks in the following draft, which is deeper for trades and etc. I think we are in for another year of "player development." I'm actually fine with this scenario. I also don't hate this. Maybe they still try to get Kawhi, but if they can't, stay flexible and go for it again in 2021 with a mostly healed Durant and room for another max (AD being the obvious target).

This scenario go get kamba, sign DeAndre Jordan on a small or 1 year deal.move DSJ or Frank and let the Barrett, Mitch and Knox work with a solid PG.
It's worth the risk vs. sign the garage left out there.

After putting in a guy who should never have been in. With Durant's history of foot and lower leg problems, he should have been out for the season.

Kevin was stupid to give in to the pressure. May yery well have cost himself 200 million. Cuz despite all their weeping Warriors ain't giving him s--t.

Only way Durant should have gone back is if they gave him an extension

you have to face that your plan got destroyed by fortune, fate, bad luck--whatever you want to call it.

Of course,you try and lure Kawhi and Davis but you also move on to a different plan if they do not come, which is highly likely.


That plan has to be to continue the rebuild with young players. The huge mistake would be to do what Donnie did after missing out on Lebron and sign guys who make you a 40-45 win team

We made it to game 5 of the NBA Finals in the entire NBA season before the one guy we needed to stay healthy suffered an injury that will keep him out of 2019-20.

It's incredible.

In comment 14469564 Chris684 said:

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We made it to game 5 of the NBA Finals in the entire NBA season before the one guy we needed to stay healthy suffered an injury that will keep him out of 2019-20. It's incredible.

I still can’t believe it. The thought of him tearing his Achilles crossed my mind before the game, but I couldn’t fathom the Knicks’ luck being THAT bad. I should know better by now. We can try to spin it positively, but this most likely ruins the Knicks for a few more years, at least.

In comment 14469388 nygiants16 said:

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In comment 14469361 djm said: Quote: In comment 14468999 nygiants16 said: Quote: Bob Meyers crying was fake as hell last noght? He knew damn well the warriors pushed kd to play and now he is going to sit there and cry because he got hurt? I thinknit was all bullshit You’re the second person to speculate on this. No, I think you and WFAN’s Gio are both reaching. every person on the tv has speculated this..

Yes I saw this too after I posted my thoughts... so ummm.... yeah, all of you are crazy?

he was asked if he thought the calf muscle could effect the achilles and he basically said something like i dont know if they are connected..like really?

In comment 14469564 Chris684 said:

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We made it to game 5 of the NBA Finals in the entire NBA season before the one guy we needed to stay healthy suffered an injury that will keep him out of 2019-20. It's incredible.

It beats him getting hurt 6-7-8-9 months from now.

Cheer up. Could be worse.

In comment 14469620 nygiants16 said:

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he was asked if he thought the calf muscle could effect the achilles and he basically said something like i dont know if they are connected..like really?

I didn’t really mean to say you’re crazy. Was only kidding. I do think it’s a cynical stretch to believe that he was faking it.

In comment 14469626 djm said:

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In comment 14469620 nygiants16 said: Quote: he was asked if he thought the calf muscle could effect the achilles and he basically said something like i dont know if they are connected..like really? I didn’t really mean to say you’re crazy. Was only kidding. I do think it’s a cynical stretch to believe that he was faking it.

no worries my wife calls me crazy to about sports

roll with the young guys, sign some 1 year vets to fill out the roster and see what we got..

In comment 14468980 Stu11 said:

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they didn't clear 2 max slots out to have Kevin Knox play 35 minutes a night again. Like it or not they are going to turn over every stone to get 2 stars here.

That may have been the plan, but it's not the only option. They could use their cap space to take bad expiring contracts to accrue yet more draft picks. Do they have the patience to take that "trust the process" approach? Hope so. But probably not.

In comment 14469436 Anakim said:

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And my God, did RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish completely suck. They were horrible all game. Culver completely outplayed Barrett.

We get it you hate Barrett. Did you happen to catch the Michigan St. Hame in the elite 8? Or the Central Florida game. Or maybe the Louisville game where he put them on his back and badically won the game singlehandedly?

Dude's gonna break the franchise record for games played in a Knicks uniform.

In comment 14468980 Stu11 said:

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they didn't clear 2 max slots out to have Kevin Knox play 35 minutes a night again. Like it or not they are going to turn over every stone to get 2 stars here.

Yep. And then all the hope that Perry is a new era of Knicks exec will evaporate. Can I bet on all of this somewhere?

the best thing and probably the only thing the Knicks can do is find a way to build their own close to 50 win team. Then maybe top tier players will be willing to give Dolan's money a try. NBA players can get as much or more money, including endorsement money, in lots of other places.

I never believed a healthy Durant was coming to the Knicks. I don't believe any of the tier one NBA FA's will play for Jim Dolan with his track record. Only tier 2 guys like Amare with no other choice or Anthony who could care less about winning.

Chris Broussard was on with Joe and Evan today. He said something interesting. Paraphrasing Fizdale & Perry are respected in the NBA. Mills has a lot of relationships in the NBA - purposely did not say he was respected. But the owner is an issue.

Brossard said there is not trust among the players about Dolan. He said the players are much more sophisticated about the business than they used to be and many have followed Lebron's lead.

He said there is not trust among the players that the front office and coach will be allowed to work without interference.

He talked about the difference in player perception of Ballmer and Dolan.

The odds are that as long as Jim Dolan is alive this is what the Knicks will be. The NBA isn't the NFL where everyone even gets a turn eventually.

would be totally foolish at this point, giving away picks and cap space when you could sign a FA and ADD to your team. Besides AD, while very good just doesn’t have 5he impact 8n today’s game that a Kawhi, Klay has on the game, you gotta be able to shoot the three!

In comment 14469653 Stu11 said:

Quote:

In comment 14469436 Anakim said: Quote: And my God, did RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish completely suck. They were horrible all game. Culver completely outplayed Barrett. We get it you hate Barrett. Did you happen to catch the Michigan St. Hame in the elite 8? Or the Central Florida game. Or maybe the Louisville game where he put them on his back and badically won the game singlehandedly?

I don't hate Barrett. I'm just very wary of him.

In comment 14469653 Stu11 said:

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Did you happen to catch the Michigan St. Hame in the elite 8? Or the Central Florida game.

7-17 and 6-15. Whoop-dee-damn-do.

In comment 14469677 arniefez said:

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the best thing and probably the only thing the Knicks can do is find a way to build their own close to 50 win team. Then maybe top tier players will be willing to give Dolan's money a try. NBA players can get as much or more money, including endorsement money, in lots of other places. I never believed a healthy Durant was coming to the Knicks. I don't believe any of the tier one NBA FA's will play for Jim Dolan with his track record. Only tier 2 guys like Amare with no other choice or Anthony who could care less about winning. Chris Broussard was on with Joe and Evan today. He said something interesting. Paraphrasing Fizdale & Perry are respected in the NBA. Mills has a lot of relationships in the NBA - purposely did not say he was respected. But the owner is an issue. Brossard said there is not trust among the players about Dolan. He said the players are much more sophisticated about the business than they used to be and many have followed Lebron's lead. He said there is not trust among the players that the front office and coach will be allowed to work without interference. He talked about the difference in player perception of Ballmer and Dolan. The odds are that as long as Jim Dolan is alive this is what the Knicks will be. The NBA isn't the NFL where everyone even gets a turn eventually.

The Dolan complaints are as hollow as they are stupid. Even SAS said Dolan isn't making any decisions with the on court product and hasn't for a long time. Jeez, the Melo trade was 8 and a half years ago. Bitching about Dolan is an excuse. If they ever were able to draft a truly elite player(s), guys would come here. The absolute truth is no one goes anywhere by themselves.

In comment 14469677 arniefez said:

Quote:

the best thing and probably the only thing the Knicks can do is find a way to build their own close to 50 win team. Then maybe top tier players will be willing to give Dolan's money a try. NBA players can get as much or more money, including endorsement money, in lots of other places. I never believed a healthy Durant was coming to the Knicks. I don't believe any of the tier one NBA FA's will play for Jim Dolan with his track record. Only tier 2 guys like Amare with no other choice or Anthony who could care less about winning. Chris Broussard was on with Joe and Evan today. He said something interesting. Paraphrasing Fizdale & Perry are respected in the NBA. Mills has a lot of relationships in the NBA - purposely did not say he was respected. But the owner is an issue. Brossard said there is not trust among the players about Dolan. He said the players are much more sophisticated about the business than they used to be and many have followed Lebron's lead. He said there is not trust among the players that the front office and coach will be allowed to work without interference. He talked about the difference in player perception of Ballmer and Dolan. The odds are that as long as Jim Dolan is alive this is what the Knicks will be. The NBA isn't the NFL where everyone even gets a turn eventually.

Amare had plenty of options in 2010. There's some serious revisionist history with Amare. He was one of the top FA's that year and much of the league had a ton of cap space and settled on lesser players. He was coming off a 2nd team all NBA selection. The risk with Amare was his health which turned out to kill his career but saying he had no other options is completely false.

Chris Broussard knows nothing. He hasn't gotten a scoop in years. There's a reason ESPN let him go. Kevin Durant publicly called him a liar about two weeks ago.

Amare's next stop on his free agent tour that summer was Chicago. Once the Knicks gave him the full 5 year max, he wasn't going anywhere else. The Suns only offered him 3 guaranteed years and no other offers were leaked out....IIRC.

Dolan's biggest problem is he tries to throw money at every problem instead of taking the time to rebuild.

I have never heard one player state that he would not play for the knicks because of Dolan. This is largely media and fans projecting their own feelings onto players.

I seriously doubt any player is thinking no way am I going to an owner who signed Houston to a ridiculous contract or hired Isiaih as GM. Players will come if they perceive the Knicks as a team on the rise--they don't care about Dolan or what he did in 2003. Lebron went back to Clev after the owner denounced him and tore down his mural.

In comment 14469717 Enzo said:

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Amare's next stop on his free agent tour that summer was Chicago. Once the Knicks gave him the full 5 year max, he wasn't going anywhere else. The Suns only offered him 3 guaranteed years and no other offers were leaked out....IIRC.

Amare was clearly a face-saving gesture by the Knicks. He was a good player but not a guy at his age and with his injury history that you build a team around.

In comment 14469564 Chris684 said:

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We made it to game 5 of the NBA Finals in the entire NBA season before the one guy we needed to stay healthy suffered an injury that will keep him out of 2019-20. It's incredible.

It's very on brand for this franchize.

In comment 14469728 Vanzetti said:

Quote:

Dolan's biggest problem is he tries to throw money at every problem instead of taking the time to rebuild. I have never heard one player state that he would not play for the knicks because of Dolan. This is largely media and fans projecting their own feelings onto players. I seriously doubt any player is thinking no way am I going to an owner who signed Houston to a ridiculous contract or hired Isiaih as GM. Players will come if they perceive the Knicks as a team on the rise--they don't care about Dolan or what he did in 2003. Lebron went back to Clev after the owner denounced him and tore down his mural.

Well said. I’m sick of hearing this argument as well. Do you think Durant went to the warriors because of Joe Lacob. I highly doubt steve ballmer is going to be this big lure....

In comment 14469685 Anakim said:

Quote:

In comment 14469653 Stu11 said: Quote: In comment 14469436 Anakim said: Quote: And my God, did RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish completely suck. They were horrible all game. Culver completely outplayed Barrett. We get it you hate Barrett. Did you happen to catch the Michigan St. Hame in the elite 8? Or the Central Florida game. Or maybe the Louisville game where he put them on his back and badically won the game singlehandedly? I don't hate Barrett. I'm just very wary of him.

Yea only literally every word you have typed about him is negative. About 5 "I think he's just a volume scorer someone tell me different" And yes Greg we get it you hate Duke. I'm a Terp I fucking despise Duke, but the guy can play. 22 7 and 4.5 is pretty godamn good especially playing on an elite college team with other options. Is he a sure thing? No but he defiantely has a high ceiling. And if shooting % is so big I'm sure you were shitting all over Kawhi and hid 16-39 after game 7 vs the sixers...

Reddish was terrible for most of the year and Zion missed how many games? Outside of those three, Duke had jack shit.

This is a devastating injury for a basketball player, but Durant can return to be the same or very close. This does not mark his downfall as an elite player.

Many would point to Bryant, who was still good but not the same player after his Achilles. But it is significant to remember Bryant was older (34) when he tore his Achilles, and six games into his return had a season-ending knee injury, which complicated matters. Look at high-flying Dominique Wilkins, who returned about nine months from his complete Achilles tear and was the same player.

I am not a contractual expert, but it seems to me that with Durant’s supreme talent a team would still make him a max offer. Or he could choose to exercise his player option to stay. The landscape of the league is changed with this, but it might actually extend Durant’s tenure with the Warriors.

I wish Durant the best of luck in his recovery. Let’s salute his effort to try to help his team.

In comment 14469744 TyreeHelmet said:

Quote:

In comment 14469728 Vanzetti said: Quote: Dolan's biggest problem is he tries to throw money at every problem instead of taking the time to rebuild. I have never heard one player state that he would not play for the knicks because of Dolan. This is largely media and fans projecting their own feelings onto players. I seriously doubt any player is thinking no way am I going to an owner who signed Houston to a ridiculous contract or hired Isiaih as GM. Players will come if they perceive the Knicks as a team on the rise--they don't care about Dolan or what he did in 2003. Lebron went back to Clev after the owner denounced him and tore down his mural. Well said. I’m sick of hearing this argument as well. Do you think Durant went to the warriors because of Joe Lacob. I highly doubt steve ballmer is going to be this big lure....

Dolan’s biggest problem isn’t that he throws money at problems. His biggest problem is that he has the wrong people around him at the leadership level. (And yes, free agent follow the money). Believe me, the guy is a huge part of why the Knicks blow. Dolan doesn’t have any character so he can’t really judge it. Same issue with intelligence. Dolan wants to win, all owners do, he’s just too dumb and too emotionally juvenile to get on the proper course. If the Knicks ever win a championship (and for fifty years now, none is really in sight) it will be despite JD.

wind up leaving the team at their first opportunity, you'll have some actual, concrete evidence that Myers was insincere, or the team neglected to consider Durant's health for their own selfish reasons.

Every meaningful player on the team (actually, probably every player) is very close with the front office and coaching staff. I find it hard to believe they'd remain so if they observed what so many of you think happened despite having no evidence to support it.

In comment 14469881 santacruzom said:

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wind up leaving the team at their first opportunity, you'll have some actual, concrete evidence that Myers was insincere, or the team neglected to consider Durant's health for their own selfish reasons. Every meaningful player on the team (actually, probably every player) is very close with the front office and coaching staff. I find it hard to believe they'd remain so if they observed what so many of you think happened despite having no evidence to support it.

Eh, you could be right but did that happen in SA? It seems likely that KD feels he was given poor information to get him to play in last night's game while risking his future health. Otherwise, why did he fly to NY directly after to get checked out by independent doctors?

In comment 14469684 gmenatlarge said:

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would be totally foolish at this point, giving away picks and cap space when you could sign a FA and ADD to your team. Besides AD, while very good just doesn’t have 5he impact 8n today’s game that a Kawhi, Klay has on the game, you gotta be able to shoot the three!

He's a three time All-NBA first teamer. That doesn't hold water.

In comment 14469884 Strahan91 said:

Quote:

In comment 14469881 santacruzom said: Quote: wind up leaving the team at their first opportunity, you'll have some actual, concrete evidence that Myers was insincere, or the team neglected to consider Durant's health for their own selfish reasons. Every meaningful player on the team (actually, probably every player) is very close with the front office and coaching staff. I find it hard to believe they'd remain so if they observed what so many of you think happened despite having no evidence to support it. Eh, you could be right but did that happen in SA? It seems likely that KD feels he was given poor information to get him to play in last night's game while risking his future health. Otherwise, why did he fly to NY directly after to get checked out by independent doctors?

My guess is because in his condition, being in plane for 90 minutes is far more appealing than 6 hours.

In comment 14469759 Giantz_comeback said:

Quote:

This is a devastating injury for a basketball player, but Durant can return to be the same or very close. This does not mark his downfall as an elite player. Many would point to Bryant, who was still good but not the same player after his Achilles. But it is significant to remember Bryant was older (34) when he tore his Achilles, and six games into his return had a season-ending knee injury, which complicated matters. Look at high-flying Dominique Wilkins, who returned about nine months from his complete Achilles tear and was the same player. I am not a contractual expert, but it seems to me that with Durant’s supreme talent a team would still make him a max offer. Or he could choose to exercise his player option to stay. The landscape of the league is changed with this, but it might actually extend Durant’s tenure with the Warriors. I wish Durant the best of luck in his recovery. Let’s salute his effort to try to help his team.

He'll still get the max. Odds are he'll be 80-95% of what he used to be. Its just a terrible injury. Torn Achilles and Torn Patella's are just brutal. i keep reading about players coming back from torn achilles, no one mentions Rudy Gay. He's a guy who gives you hope, he came back at at a fairly high level.

His age is the biggest problem. A lot of wear and tear on his body already. Hopefully he goes the Wilkins route.

In comment 14470064 GiantGrit said:

Quote:

In comment 14469759 Giantz_comeback said: Quote: This is a devastating injury for a basketball player, but Durant can return to be the same or very close. This does not mark his downfall as an elite player. Many would point to Bryant, who was still good but not the same player after his Achilles. But it is significant to remember Bryant was older (34) when he tore his Achilles, and six games into his return had a season-ending knee injury, which complicated matters. Look at high-flying Dominique Wilkins, who returned about nine months from his complete Achilles tear and was the same player. I am not a contractual expert, but it seems to me that with Durant’s supreme talent a team would still make him a max offer. Or he could choose to exercise his player option to stay. The landscape of the league is changed with this, but it might actually extend Durant’s tenure with the Warriors. I wish Durant the best of luck in his recovery. Let’s salute his effort to try to help his team. He'll still get the max. Odds are he'll be 80-95% of what he used to be. Its just a terrible injury. Torn Achilles and Torn Patella's are just brutal. i keep reading about players coming back from torn achilles, no one mentions Rudy Gay. He's a guy who gives you hope, he came back at at a fairly high level. His age is the biggest problem. A lot of wear and tear on his body already. Hopefully he goes the Wilkins route.

Gay was a non-entity before the injury- just another guy. Now he comes back- and he's still just another guy, and we are supposed to draw hope for AD from that?

Come on man.