New York Knicks: Kevin Durant only briefly considered other teams

By Rob Wolkenbrod | Sep 27, 2019

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a photograph during Media Day at HSS Training Center on September 27, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Kevin Durant was long linked to the New York Knicks before joining Brooklyn, but he said he only briefly considered other options this summer.

For most of the 2018-19 NBA season, speculation hovered around Kevin Durant potentially joining the New York Knicks in the offseason, despite winning consecutive championships with the Golden State Warriors and making a third NBA Finals.

Durant opted for New York, but the other basketball team it contains: the Brooklyn Nets. He joined fellow often-rumored-to-be-a-Knick and friend, Kyrie Irving, on a multi-year contract.

On Friday, the former NBA MVP spoke publicly for the first time as a Net at the team’s Media Day, clarifying the events of the past few months. Asked whether he considered other teams like the Knicks, Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, per The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, Durant said it was for “a couple of seconds.”

Also, via Vorkunov, Durant said it was due to what the Nets “brought to the table,” referring to the roster already in place:

"“It was really easy to see what these guys brought to the table. It’s not like I had to do any deep analysis of any player here.”"

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D’Angelo Russell left the team, but Brooklyn still has Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen, each of whom contributed to the team’s surprise playoff run. Plus, along with Irving, former Knick DeAndre Jordan signed in free agency, providing a veteran presence under the rim.

Meanwhile, the Knicks had a young roster, albeit with few pieces, and cap space to offer, after a 17-65 season that featured more negatives than positives. So if the decision was down to both New York teams, the group with the playoff-experienced talents makes some sense for any player to want to join.

However, the Nets may not have Durant for the entire 2019-20 season due to a ruptured Achilles. It makes this an expensive redshirt year, while Irving leads the team to potential playoff prosperity. The Knicks do not have a star and could fall behind Brooklyn early, but they signed their own free agents for roster upgrades.

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Brooklyn may haunt the Knicks for years, but the season must play out before the 2019 summer becomes another one to forget for the orange and blue.

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