Power ranking the Kevin Durant NBA 2016 free agency suitors
By John Buhler
East. Atlantic. New York Knicks. 7. player. 27.
While the trade to get Rose brought New York into the fold for Durant in free agency, this is by far the worst option he’s currently considering. New York hasn’t been a well-run organization since the 1990s. The Knicks routinely overpay for aging veterans way past their prime to sell seats at Madison Square Garden than play championship caliber basketball.
Are there appealing elements associated with the Knicks this summer? Absolutely. A starting five that included Rose, small forward Carmelo Anthony, Durant, and center Kristaps Porzingis could win close to 50 games and conceivably make some noise in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. At best, this could be the second best team in the East behind only James’ Cavaliers.
The problem with the Knicks is that there are so many other problems. Like Durant, both Rose and Anthony don’t like sharing the basketball (there’s only one.). New head coach Jeff Hornacek has already stated that he wants Porzingis to be the focal point of the offense, as he should, but that would all change in an instant if Durant signs with the Knicks.
Playing in a major media market that loves to play gotcha won’t help Durant, who has been coddled in Oklahoma City the last eight years by its pandering media. If he and his All-Star 2016-17 Knicks team don’t make the Eastern Conference Finals, what’s the point of him even going there?
Next: 6. Boston Celtics.