2. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant appeared to be all but contractually signed to the New York Knicks from November to May, despite making the NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors for the third consecutive year with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
This was the player to take the Knicks to their greatest place in two decades, until Durant ruptured his Achilles after returning too early from a strained calf in the NBA Finals. It likely takes him out for all of the 2019-20 season.
It might not stop the Knicks from giving Durant a four-year max contract, which basically becomes three seasons with the time he will miss. Still, that is a 32 year old returning from a devastating injury in October 2020, leaving even more doubt than DeMarcus Cousins’ ailment.
If Durant can resemble the player who dominated the NBA for a decade, he will take the Knicks over the top. Maybe another star joins him and makes New York basketball that much more interesting and championship-realistic.
There are too many ifs with Durant and the Knicks, no matter how likely this pairing is. It all depends on his return from an injury that hampered players before him, and that does not include potentially joining the Clippers, Nets or Warriors as alternatives.