NBA Rumors: New York Knicks To Sign Kevin Durant In Free Agency This Summer

The New York Knicks know that a repeat of last year’s season can’t happen, and Phil Jackson is not one that puts up with failure. Moves need to be made, and while trades are possible, the Knicks are likely going to try to pursue some big names in this summer’s NBA free agency season. Players such as Dwight Howard and Jeremy Lin are already having their names thrown around, but the team has their sights set on the ultimate prize – Kevin Durant.

Immediately after the Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, Durant said he hadn’t yet thought about free agency. One day later, ESPN is reporting that he’s now starting to thinking about this summer and where he may land.

Durant has a number of decisions to make and is planning on sitting down with those close to him to figure out what to do. As of now, he doesn’t know where he will end up as he’s not sure which teams are going to pursue him.

“We will figure it out. I will talk to my agent, my best friend and my dad, just talk to those three guys and get some advice from other people. But for the most part, I will talk to them in the next couple of weeks. I don’t even know where my mind is right now. I can’t think about what is going to happen in a month. I’m just thinking about what we’ve all been through as a team and embrace my brothers right now.”

Kevin Durant has the group of people he needs to help him decide where to go and what to do, but what are his options?

Oklahoma City is obviously going to look at re-signing Durant if at all possible, but it’s not going to be easy. Numerous teams have been rumored to chase after him and a lot of them have the money to spend and the assets to tempt Durant in their direction. For instance, the Knicks are likely going to use Kristaps Porzingis as possible bait to show Durant what they have to offer.

Yes, the Knicks have won a mere 49 games combined in the last two seasons, but they have some key pieces which could be impressive to Durant. He’s looking to win a championship and the 27-year-old doesn’t want to wait as he wants a lot of them.

Durant has already said that he’s a big fan of rookie Kristaps Porzingis and he has a very close personal friendship with Carmelo Anthony. These could be two very big selling points for the Knicks as they attempt to sign Durant this summer.

Fansided has indeed confirmed that the Knicks are one of a handful of teams that have plans of going after Durant, and it won’t be easy for any of them.

Wizards, Heat, Celtics, Rockets, Knicks, Lakers, Spurs and, yes, Warriors… all expected to pursue Kevin Durant in free agency this summer

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 31, 2016

Whichever team ends up getting close enough to Durant to sign him will end up giving him a max contract. At one point, Durant called playing in New York “a blessing,” but he didn’t see it as one of the truly possible options once free agency arrived. Now, anything is possible and the Knicks are certainly going to do whatever it takes to bring him in.

Kevin Durant is the top target that numerous teams will go after this summer, and he will be the ultimate catch in NBA free agency. He has now started thinking about what he’s going to do and where his future could be, but a final decision has not yet been made. The New York Knicks would turn into instant contenders with the signing of Durant, but like any other team, it is certainly going to cost them.

[Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]