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New York Knicks: Ranking the top 2019 free agents targets

By Rob Wolkenbrod

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

3. Kyrie Irving

Once seemingly a lock to join the New York Knicks, almost all Kyrie Irving rumors have turned towards the Brooklyn Nets, who slumped around as the Boston Celtics took their draft picks from the Kevin Garnett–Paul Pierce trade for years. They finally dug out of it in 2018-19, and with a playoff-bound season, the path to longer success suddenly opened the door for one of the NBA’s top point guards.

That leaves the Knicks in the dust, but not until a decision becomes official.

The speculation bounced between both New York teams for Irving, who changed his mind from a previous commitment to Boston. He also chose to leave a Cleveland Cavaliers team that had LeBron James, just over 12 months after winning the 2016 NBA Championship.

This is an unpredictable player. Who knows what he will decide at 6:00 p.m. ET Sunday night? The Knicks, Nets and even the Los Angeles Lakers hold cards to sign him, the latter of which reunites him with James.

Irving with the Knicks, however, makes this the closest thing to “his” team, which never happened in Boston. Even if another star like Kevin Durant signs with him, he still has the 2019-20 team to himself, finally receiving the chance to claim the “leader” status consistently questioned.

The downside is everything that happened with the Celtics, from creating a public spectacle over his free agency to the inability to lead Boston to playoff success, the risk is apparent. Brooklyn is taking that on by potentially making him their top guy.