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New York Knicks: Injury changed Kevin Durant’s free agency, says Jalen Rose

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks to media during Brooklyn Nets 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 Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks to media during Brooklyn Nets 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 Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /
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At a PUMA event Saturday, Jalen Rose spoke on the New York Knicks’ lost chances at Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and what happened next.

The 2019 offseason did not result in a king’s ransom for the New York Knicks. Long speculated targets like Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard signed elsewhere, leaving the Knicks with approximately $70 million to spend elsewhere on the roster.

Preceding events could have changed New York’s outcome, though, according to ESPN analyst Jalen Rose, one they were apparently unhappy about.

On Saturday, at a PUMA event in Brooklyn, Rose spoke on the Knicks’ free agency with Durant and Irving:

“So the Knicks, of course you want to sign KD, of course you want to sign Kyrie,” said Rose. “And [Durant] even talked about, he was really considering the team and then he was almost the lead recruiter. To the point where when he got injured, Kyrie became the lead recruiter. And ultimately, he ended up with the Nets. They didn’t know he was coming, he announced it on IG. “The Knicks were in the conversation.”

Durant and Irving joined the Nets within hours of free agency opening on June 30, after months of questions on their respective futures. The former had ruptured his Achilles in the NBA Finals, while the latter player went from hinting at staying in Boston to having an unceremonious exit in the postseason.

The Knicks had to move on, signing seven players instead, headlined by Julius Randle and Marcus Morris. RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis were also selected in the 2019 NBA Draft, highlighting the roster overhaul from a 17-65 season.

“So if you can’t get those guys, you need to get two at every position,” Rose said. “And I liked that they tried to get 10 or 12 guys that are going to show up at the game like the Clippers and Nets did last year, and they feel like, ‘I deserve to play and I’m going to play hard.’ The coach, unlike having a No. 1 receiver per se, can spread the ball around.

“And then you hope to become attractive for other top-tier free agents that become available for the next couple of years,” Rose added, on New York’s future chances in the open market. “We don’t know what’s going to happen with the Greek Freak, Spida Mitchell or a lot of guys that are going to become free agents.”

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Perhaps the New York Knicks’ situation could have played out differently if Durant never hurt his Achilles, but that is out the window as the 2019-20 season comes into focus. 2021 free agency, which Rose alluded to with Giannis Antetokounmpo, could provide the long-awaited positives, but that is still too far away to guarantee anything.

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