New York Knicks: Pending Free Agents To Watch In 2017 All-Star Game

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Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference forward Kevin Durant (35) of the Golden State Warriors during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Kevin Durant, Player Option

Position: Small Forward
Age: 28 (9/29/1988)
Experience: 10th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .539/.374/.876
2016-17 Season Averages: 34.1 MPG, 25.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.9 3PM

In 2016, Kevin Durant spurned the Oklahoma City Thunder and signed a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors. Durant has a player option worth $27,734,405 for 2017-18, which creates the possibility that he could forego free agency.

If Durant opts to hit the open market, however, it’s fair to question whether or not he’d be willing to join the New York Knicks.

When Durant left the Thunder after nine years in Oklahoma City, he called the move to Oakland a, “Business decision.” There’s no telling what that decision entailed, nor how long he plans to be a member of the Warriors.

If Durant’s business decision simply entailed learning how to win and securing an NBA championship, then he could conceivably leave Oakland in 2017.

Phil Jackson would have to move mountains to convince Durant to join the Knicks, but that’s a part of his job as team president. What’s trending in New York’s favor is that Durant is signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports and has shown a desire to develop his personal brand.

One could easily argue that there’s no better market to grow one’s brand in than the City of Dreams—a selling point that Jackson will likely attempt to utilize.

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