New York Knicks: Scottie Pippen questions Kevin Durant potentially signing

NBA legend Scottie Pippen questioned why Kevin Durant would sign with the New York Knicks this offseason.

The Kevin Durant-New York Knicks speculation has run rampant since the end of the 2018 offseason. This two-time NBA champion can become a free agent this summer and leave the Golden State Warriors, who he shockingly signed with in 2016.

Durant signing with the Knicks is hardly a foregone conclusion, and at least one NBA legend has doubts for it happening, as Scottie Pippen said on ESPN’s The Jump (h/t Bleacher Report):

"“I’m not buying none of this,” Pippen said Friday on The Jump regarding Durant joining the Knicks. “Why would KD even leave? What’s the point? Why would you leave Golden State? You’re gonna be the highest paid player on the team, you’re winning. I don’t see KD leaving. I think he left OKC to find happiness … he’s found happiness.”"

Pippen, who played with the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers, has a point, even if against the long-standing Knicks theories.

Durant already won consecutive championships with the Warriors, after not achieving any with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His 2015-16 Thunder team were up 3-1 on Golden State in the Western Conference Finals but lost three straight to close their postseason.

It might be impossible to find a better supporting cast than Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins. Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Jordan Bell are all quality supporting players, as well, and they even brought Andrew Bogut back.

This group will sit among the favorites to win the championship in June, and Durant can probably do this into the 2020s if he chose to stay.

Does Durant want a fresh start, though, with his own team? The Knicks would be his, and Kyrie Irving could join him. If not for that reason, the former NBA Finals MVP will move his company to New York City, per ESPN. As LeBron James went to Los Angeles for business reasons, maybe the next-best player will follow suit.

Taking over the Knicks also means ruling a team on pace for the worst record in franchise history. Accomplishing this means crossing 65 losses, and just six games remain after Saturday’s tilt with the Miami Heat. Most of this roster will also hit free agency, so it will look different with or without Durant.

Also, note that Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News said, different NBA personnel believe Durant signs with the Knicks.

No answer will arrive until July, but speculation will persist as Durant makes the next decision on his future, whether with the Knicks or somewhere else.