Report: Durant giving Knicks 'consideration' as Carmelo recruits him
Get ready for a year's worth of headlines like these. I promise, they're not going away.
Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony have known each other a long time. Between Team USA, personal workouts, mutual friends, All-Star Games and public appearances, it's probably hard for them to avoid each other.
Apparently, 'Melo is going a bit out of his way to see Durant even more, though.
From ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, as transcribed by Dan Feldman of NBC Sports:
Well, that's some interesting stuff, though Smith did preface the above statement with "I don't believe it's going to happen at all." Still, this isn't the first time we've heard about 'Melo actively recruiting K.D., a free agent at the finish of the upcoming season, to come play next to him in New York.
There's some connection here. Durant and Fisher were teammates not too long ago with the Thunder, where Fish was a locker-room leader and role model for many of the younger players, including Durant, who has spoken glowingly in the past about the now-Knicks coach. But this does seem like a reach, even if 'Melo is throwing his whole heart into the process.
If Durant leaves Oklahoma City, you'd have to imagine it'll be for a situation that offers both short-term and long-term winning viability. Let's say the Knicks have a major surprise season this year. Let's say they win 43 games and get into the postseason as a No. 6 or No. 7 seed. Still, is there long-term appeal there for a star like Durant, who could go anywhere he wants if he were to express enough desire?
Durant would obviously make them one of the better teams in the East, but how long would that last for considering Anthony will be 32 next summer? The long-term option just doesn't make much sense.
The Knicks set themselves up well for the future this offseason with signings like Robin Lopez, Kyle O'Quinn and Arron Afflalo, but that's probably more for the summer of 2017 than anything else. Realistically, this is a team that'll finish with a win total in the low-to-mid 30s. That's probably not getting a star either, even though it's a far cry from the 17 victories New York finished with last season.
(h/t NBC Sports)
