New York Knicks: Don’t expect Kevin Durant to spoil his free agency plans

As speculation continues about Kevin Durant‘s future, the man himself spoke ahead of Tuesday’s game between the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors.

The first time the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors played this season, someone posted a billboard in New York City that promoted Kevin Durant’s potential arrival to the Big Apple. He was rumored to be the Knicks’ top target in free agency, and fans know he can reshape this franchise.

With Durant’s Warriors facing the Knicks at Golden State, he was asked of his future ahead of game time. Specifically, the odds he makes a team change next summer, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

"“I have no clue where that stuff comes from. I just focus on playing ball every single day. I can’t control what people say about me or what they say about my future or what I should do. I just try to come to work every single day, and life will figure itself out for me.”"

It’s fewer than six months until free agency, and the Knicks just played their 41st game of the season — the official halfway point. However, it’s still way too early into the process to know anything.

Durant has three-plus months of regular season left with the Warriors, a likely deeply playoff run and potentially his third consecutive year in the NBA Finals. He’s a winner of the past two, and Golden State will have DeMarcus Cousins around soon.

The Warriors may not have a similar team next season, as Klay Thompson is also due a max contract. This can complicate how much the Warriors willingly offer Durant, especially if he wants a full max deal for 2019-20 and beyond.

Though until that happens, he’s locked into an NBA dynasty, one that would, of course, have the risk of falling apart if he leaves. The same if Draymond Green departs after the 2019-20 season when his contract expires.

Along with that, to even maybe have a seat at Durant’s table, they still need to clear about $9 million to reach his $38 million salary on a max deal. Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. both have contracts above this and into the eight figures, but to attach an asset in any trade, it goes against what the Knicks preached.

Will the New York Knicks even consider Durant, though? Per Marc Berman of the New York Post, the team may not be all-in on signing a top free agent anymore. If so, that not only takes them away from the former NBA MVP, but Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving and the other expensive players set to hit the open market.

For now, Durant in the blue and orange is just a pipe dream. It has a nice ring to it for fans, but until he puts pen to paper and has an official press conference with team executives, this feels like a transaction more likely in NBA 2K19.