Why the New York Knicks Are NOT Getting KD and Kyrie

AJ Shaw, Staff Writer

The 2019 NBA Free Agent class looks to be the deepest collection of talent since the infamous class of 2010. This year is headlined by superstars like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker — just to name a few.

When it comes to Durant and Irving, many have rumored that both players would join forces with the New York Knicks, especially with New York having enough salary cap space this summer to acquire two max free agents.

In fact, the major goal all along for the Knicks was to also get the #1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and select Zion Williamson, the consensus top pick in this draft, or package this pick with some of their young assets like Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, or Mitchell Robinson to acquire the services of Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans.

However, as we pretty much know by now, the Knicks did not get the #1 pick in the draft, and instead got the #3 pick, which isn’t horrible, but doesn’t help the Knicks when it comes to their offseason plans.

Now stuck with this draft selection, this puts the Knicks in an awkward position where they have a ton of cap space, but may not be able to acquire the talents of Durant or Irving.

Sure, the Knicks may get a talented player with this pick like Williamson’s teammate at Duke, R.J. Barrett, or Murray State’s Ja Morant, but those players do not bring the impact to a franchise like Zion does.

To me, both Durant and Irving are not going to a team with an uncertain future coming off a 65 loss season. If the two want to compete for championships, they need to go to another team that is ready to contend or is contending, like the Los Angeles Clippers or stay with the team they are currently with.

New York is not in that position, and if the two want to “ring chase” there are better options out there instead of the Knicks.

For all I know, maybe in a couple of months this article will be irrelevant, and some of you may take this article and send it to Old Takes Exposed, but for now, the Knicks are not getting those guys in free agency.