NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for Kevin Durant

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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 26: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball against the New York Knicks on October 26, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. New York Knicks

If taking only basketball into consideration, Durant has no good reason to sign with the Knicks this summer.

Fresh off a league-worst 17-win season, the Knicks dropped two spots in the lottery standings, ensuring they won’t have a chance to select Duke wunderkind Zion Williamson or Murray State point guard Ja Morant. A young core featuring this year’s No. 3 overall pick, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr. and Mitchell Robinson might one day develop into a promising supporting cast, but it’s nowhere near a win-now outfit.

By shipping Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline, the Knicks carved out enough salary-cap space to offer two max contracts in free agency without having to salary-dump anyone. In theory, they could sign Durant and a superstar sidekick of his choice and then package their young core to trade for Anthony Davis, too.

While assembling a Big Three in the Big Apple may appeal to Durant and Co., the Knicks would surround them with a paper-thin supporting cast. Even if they keep Robinson out of any trades, they’d be limited to nothing more than the room mid-level exception and veteran-minimum contracts to round out their bench.

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But much like LeBron James did last summer, Durant may prioritize off-court factors instead of proximity to a championship while deciding upon his next home.

According to Steve Poppler of Newsday, a grand majority of team officials at the NBA Draft Combine believed it’s a “fait accompli” that Durant will sign with the Knicks this summer. While a dark horse like the Clippers, Lakers or Nets still could swoop in and steal him, the number of plugged-in reporters hinting at a Durant-Knicks union makes it seem all but inevitable.

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