As the Knicks prepare to host the Warriors on Friday night, a banner of Kevin Durant in a Knicks jersey rests outside of Madison Square Garden. Although its creator is unknown, the large, rectangular message reads: “Can you make NY Sports great again?”
Durant, who’s set to become a free agent in July, is expected to receive interest from several teams with maximum-salary space across the league. The Knicks could be one of these teams, with Durant likely to be at the top of their free-agent list.
“I don’t really know how to feel about that type of stuff,” Durant said, according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “It’s cool. No disrespect, but I’m not really impressed with that type of stuff.”
Next to Durant on the banner is budding superstar Kristaps Porzingis, a selling piece for the Knicks to help attract free agents in the summer of 2019. In addition to Durant, the team could target the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler or Kyrie Irving.
There’s more from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- Nick Nurse could be the key to the Raptors‘ reset, Jake Fischer details in a piece for SI’s The Crossover. Nurse was hired as Raptors head coach this past offseason and has guided the team to a 5-0 record, quickly earning the respect of players, assistants and fans.
- Nets guard Joe Harris has started the 2018/19 season on a good note, shooting the ball well and proving his worth after signing a new deal with the team this summer, as detailed in a piece by Nets Daily. Harris signed a two-year, $16MM contract to rejoin the club in the offseason, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds on Wednesday against Cleveland.
- Despite being heavily criticized for trading the rights to Luka Doncic for Trae Young on draft night, the Hawks may have secured a long-term building block in Young, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor writes. Young is making a good early impression, averaging 21.5 points and 7.5 assists through four games.
Need to read today’s Sacramento Bee article on Durant. He won’t discuss free agency, but will say he likes playing for the Warriors. James Dolan won’t help the Knicks get any free agent.
Jimmy the dunce. Steve Kerr didn’t coach the Knicks for that reason.
For what reason? Fans made and paid for the sign.
The owner is an incompetent douche bag.
You kind of want to think Durant would want to take on the challenge of pursuing a title elsewhere but I think he’s comfortable playing alongside Curry man. It’s a joy to play with Steph, Steph has no ego and plays the game to win and has fun doing it. Why would he ever lose that? The NY environment won’t be easy on him at all.
Not sure using Trumps Slogan, with KD is the right way to go? Most NBA players are anti-Trump. Just saying…
Raptors are off to a great start, obviously, but they’ve had a pretty easy path so far (lots of home games). It will be interesting to see what Nurse does as the Raptors head into more road games etc.
Masai Ujiri is why Toronto is where they’re at. Head coach is just there to play his extremely versatile 2 way roster. Nick Nurse isnt why they’re a guaranteed top 2 team in the East, and a real contender for the first time ever