Kevin Durant (UFA)
This man is the domino that was mentioned earlier. It’s insane that even though Kevin Durant has had a potentially career-altering injury, interest levels are still remarkably high in acquiring the 6-foot-9 forward. Obviously, let us not forget that when healthy, he is an absolute game changer on the court, and having already opted out of his $31.5 million player option, he’ll get a max deal everywhere he goes.
In Durant’s case, it’s a four-team race to sign the 30-year old; the Knicks, Nets, Clippers, and of course, the Warriors. Re-signing with the latter will bring him the most money, as, by the time KD turns 34, he will be earning an astounding $50.4 million. Financially, this makes the most sense, but perhaps he finally may be looking for a new challenge, and that is to lead his own team, which is where the first three teams come into play.
If the Knicks manage to acquire Durant’s services, their odds of pairing him with another star will be much greater; the first part, however, is a major ask. The KD to Clippers train has kind of settled down as of late, with the real noise coming from Brooklyn, where a potential KD and Kyrie pairing might send shock waves across the league.
Theoretically, this scenario could unfold with the Knicks, but the Nets’ high odds of signing Irving could point to Kevin Durant joining him there.