ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Why the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving free agency hype is reaching a fever pitch — and why the Knicks are involved

kyrie irving kevin durant
  • The impending free agency of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has been a major talking point in the NBA all season.
  • Despite both players playing for great teams, there have been persistent rumors that they could leave, with the New York Knicks frequently mentioned as a possible destination.
  • Rumors, reports, and more have left the NBA world with a trail of bread crumbs to follow and speculate on the futures of both stars.

The NBA regular season is in its stretch run, with the playoffs just around the corner, but two of the biggest stories in the league remain the futures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Both are set to become free agents in what is shaping up to be a stacked free agent class in 2019.

Over the course of the season, rumors have continued to pile on over whether both stars would leave their respective teams in free agency, possibly to team up. The New York Knicks are frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot. Both players' actions throughout the season have only added fuel to the fire.

Here's why the free agency hype is building:

ADVERTISEMENT

Winslow Townson/AP; Matt Slocum/AP

ADVERTISEMENT

Ezra Shaw/Getty

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

The deals do not give the Warriors a long-term commitment. They've helped set Durant up to make more money, but they've also kept his options open each summer.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the 2017-18 season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told ESPN's Zach Lowe on a podcast that he had a one-on-one meeting with Durant during the season because he sensed Durant "drifting." Lowe wrote separately that he believes the Warriors were somewhat nervous that Durant might leave. He, of course, did not.

Tony Dejak/AP

First, GM Bob Myers joked that Stephen Curry could have any contract he wants because he had been there for the whole run. He said Durant could not.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then, the event's emcee, Bob Fiztgerald of NBC Sports, joked that he wanted to be near Durant "before his Warrior exit." Durant shook his head on stage.

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT

Source: ESPN

Jeff Chiu/AP

ADVERTISEMENT

Gregory Shamus/Getty

1. Durant's agent, Rich Kleiman, is from New York. He once tweeted that he would one day like to run the Knicks.

2. The Knicks have cap space to sign Durant.

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Knicks GM Scott Perry was in the Seattle SuperSonics' front office when they drafted Durant. He and Durant were reportedly close.

4. Amid talk that the Warriors would never be Durant's team, some wondered if he might want to pursue leading another team on his own. What better franchise than the downtrodden Knicks? For all of the negativity Durant received for joining the Warriors, leading the Knicks deep in the playoffs would make him one of the most popular athletes in the world.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT

Separate reports indicated Irving and the Celtics' front office had had the same discussion.

This seemed to quiet rumors about Irving joining the Knicks. Irving grew up in north New Jersey, not far from New York.

via Fox Sports West/NBA

ADVERTISEMENT

The incident occurred when Durant chastised Green for not passing him the ball for a game-winning shot.

Green shot back at Durant, reportedly claiming Durant wasn't part of the team's future, so he should just leave. He reportedly told Durant the team didn't need him.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bob Levey/Getty

ADVERTISEMENT

Andy Lyons/Getty

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Knicks previously had nearly enough cap space for one superstar. By trading Porzingis, along with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee, while not taking back any salary, the Knicks created enough cap space for two superstars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seth Wenig/AP

ADVERTISEMENT

Nick Wass/AP

"In my discussions with rival team executives, I've heard from many more who praise the trade believing the Knicks must have some promising inside information about their ability to lure the likes of Durant and Irving than from those questioning how much the Knicks received in return.

"I can also pass along that the threat of the Knicks' persuading Durant to leave one of the most dominant teams in league history has never felt more real to the Warriors themselves."

ADVERTISEMENT

Mary Altaffer/AP

"'The only reason you can justify doing it,' the same exec said of dumping Porzingis, 'is you have some level of certainty in your own mind that you're getting KD and Kyrie, or KD and whatever.'

ADVERTISEMENT

"Others were more blunt. 'It means they're pretty sure they're getting KD,' said a rival exec who believes the Knicks have already been told Durant is coming."

ADVERTISEMENT

Ben Margot/AP

"Let us be frank, with the caveat that the choice lives inside the head of one guy who can and does change his mind: Insiders around the league think Kevin Durant is leaving the Warriors for the Knicks. Most people within the Warriors either think Durant is leaving or profess not to know one way or the other. His teammates recognize this reality, can handle it and merely want one outcome: Win a championship, absent too much drama. The main concern, at the moment, is whether hell commit in the short term to what he may have already left in the long term."

Strauss also wrote that Durant wishes to be recognized as the best player in the NBA, something that may be difficult so long as the Warriors remain the most stacked team in the league.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ted S. Warren/AP

ADVERTISEMENT

Abbie Parr/Getty

What if the Celtics weren't as good as expected? With Irving frequently critiquing the young players on the team and signs of real locker room strife, some wondered if this was going to be a long-term marriage after all.

Michael Dwyer/AP

ADVERTISEMENT

On February 1, before a game against the Knicks, Irving was asked about re-signing with Boston and said he didn't "owe anyone s---." Irving said he would do what's best for his family and told reporters to ask him his feelings on his future on July 1.

Michael Dwyer/AP

ADVERTISEMENT

Source: The Ringer

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Some people thought Irving was talking about two max cap space slots a reference to the Knicks.

Irving later criticized the media for the attention the video received.

Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News/Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT

That continued Tuesday night when he was asked about Kerr's assertion that the Warriors needed to play with more "anger." Durant responded by noting that Kerr usually tells the Warriors to play with "joy."

"I thought we moved off joy. Now anger? I disagree with that one," Durant said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Matt Slocum/AP

Source: Yahoo

ADVERTISEMENT

Eric Christian Smith/AP; Mark J. Terrill/AP

Some believe that Durant may only be comfortable leaving the Warriors if they win another championship. Just as he joined them because they lost in the 2016 Finals, he may leave them if they win three straight championships, believing he's achieved everything he wanted with them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Conversely, the Celtics' playoff success could play a huge role in Irving's decision. If the Celtics regroup and contend for a championship, he may re-sign in Boston, not wanting to leave a young, growing, talented team. But if the Celtics lose in the second round, that would be a disappointment and may cause him to go elsewhere.

John Locher/AP

See Also:

ADVERTISEMENT

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT