NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook Could Sign With Knicks In 2017
NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook, who becomes a free agent in 2017, could reportedly sign with the New York Knicks in 2017
This upcoming NBA Free Agency period is being called the most important offseason in NBA history. Not only because of the players that will hit the open market, which includes Kevin Durant, but also because of the rising salary cap.
Nearly every team will have the opportunity to add a max contract, thanks to the increase in cap. Teams will be able to right all the wrong that they might’ve committed over the last few years. Bad contracts won’t look as bad anymore. Max deals from the last few seasons won’t be the same max deals that the likes of Kevin Durant, Al Horford and LeBron James will get this summer.
It’s almost like a clean slate for many teams. And that isn’t any different for the New York Knicks, who have made their fair share of mistakes during free agency over the last decade.
But this summer might not be the biggest summer for the Knicks moving forward. Instead, it could be 2017. And they’re already on the radar of perhaps the biggest free agent for that summer – Russell Westbrook.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- LeBron James working to assemble super team for USA Basketball in 2024
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
"[via Yahoo]The Knicks have a real chance to sell Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in 2017 – New York and Porzingis have his attention, yes – and Jackson ought to start constructing an elite coaching staff to begin that process with Westbrook and with free agents beyond him."
The Knicks likely won’t sign Kevin Durant this summer. And the same goes for many of the other bigger stars in free agency. The Knicks are just not close enough to compete for an NBA Championship right now – and that’s what most free agents will be looking for this summer.
However, in 2017, when Kristaps Porzingis is two years older – and two years more developed – the Knicks could be big players in free agency.
Despite whether Carmelo Anthony is still on the team or not, the Knicks could be a hotspot for free agents once again.
With Phil Jackson leading the charge in the front office, along with a young head coach (Brian Shaw or Luke Walton) and with the unique talent that Porzingis is, why wouldn’t a Westbrook sign in New York?
He’ll have the spotlight and the team will finally be HIS. He won’t have to share it with Durant and he’ll be able to play in Madison Square Garden every night.
Next: Knicks: Five Head Coaching Candidates To Replace Derek Fisher
Even though the Knicks haven’t been the Knicks of old in the last two decades, the Mecca of basketball is still the Mecca. It’s magical. Just look at how every NBA player talks about playing in New York.
Westbrook signing with the Knicks right now sounds laughable – and I can’t blame you for that – but in 2017, the thought of that won’t be funny. It’ll be scary.