NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant reportedly considering Knicks for 2016 free agency

There’s no way we can know where Kevin Durant will land in the free agency of 2016, but now he’s reportedly taking the New York Knicks into consideration.

Aside for LeBron James, there is no other player in the NBA who possesses more value as a free agent than Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the summer of 2016, he’ll officially become the most sought-after free agent in the league, a player who can instantly turn around the future of any franchise that he chooses to bless with his once-in-a-generation type talent.

He may well stay put, as All-NBA point guard and triple-double machine Russell Westbrook is under contract with the Thunder through the 2016-17 season. Alternatively, there have been speculations that Durant may wish to go home to Washington and join the Wizards. Both are possibilities, but now Stephen A. Smith of ESPN has suggested that the four-time scoring champion and former MVP is considering joining the New York Knicks as well. Furthermore, he’s apparently being recruited by the team’s best player.

“I know for a fact that Carmelo Anthony has been and will continue to recruit Kevin Durant until the cows come home. I’m also hearing that Kevin Durant is giving the New York Knicks consideration,” Smith said on ESPN First Take.

It must be emphasised that this is speculation, but the fact that Smith has reportedly heard of Carmelo Anthony recruiting Kevin Durant makes things a little more interesting. The Knicks aren’t even close to contention, despite being in the weaker Eastern Conference. Although Durant could help turn that around overnight, Anthony and himself would still be carrying most of the load, regardless of the weak Eastern Conference competition which includes a loaded Cleveland Cavaliers team and upgrades this offseason such as Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez.

However, the Knicks’ cap situation may be an issue. Dan Feldman of NBC Sports Pro Basketball Talk has highlighted the fact that New York have already committed $67,964,567 of their salary cap for the summer of 2016, which only leaves them $18,861,549 below the projected cap increase to $89 million. With Durant making $20.15 million last season, his salary could rise to near $25 million next season.

As a result, the Knicks’ task of tempting him away from his immensely talented roster in Oklahoma becomes more difficult. Even if they had anywhere near the amount of talent that the Thunder have — who are armed with a supporting trio of Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter — it would still be difficult to pry Durant away from such a young and promising roster.

As for the possibility of Kevin Durant joining the Wizards, there have never been any concrete reports that there’s a strong chance of him heading home. The idea of any player returning home can be a valid free agency storyline to pursue, but there haven’t been any sound developments to indicate that Durant genuinely intends to leave the Thunder.

Of course he’ll consider his options. When you’re the second best player in the game, you’ve earned the right to decide which team you make a contender. However, when looking at the Knicks’ lacking talent, depth and possibly difficult financial situation, it’s hard to see them making a tempting enough bid to lure Kevin Durant away from two far better options.

He can either head home to Washington with the likes of John Wall and Bradley Beal, or ride it out with the Thunder now that the team can return to full health to test their potential in the upcoming season. The drama promises to be immense next summer, but we’re still hardly any closer to knowing where Durant will be.

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