Knicks Rumors: Tobias Harris, Jimmy Butler Won't Join NY If Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard Spurn NYK

The New York Knicks are going big-game hunting this summer. They don’t plan to settle for anything less than the best, even if it means failing to improve the team in the short term.

New York is aiming to acquire a top-tier free agent. That means signing either Kevin Durant, with whom they’ve been linked for months, or Kawhi Leonard, who is expected to ultimately choose between the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors.

Kyrie Irving is also on the Knicks’ radar, though he isn’t a true superstar like the last two NBA Finals MVP winners. Most reports indicate that Irving plans to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Knicks have enough salary cap space to sign two free agents to max contracts. The number of players that receive such an offer in July could approach double digits.

If neither Durant nor Leonard signs with the Knicks, don’t expect anyone to get max money to play in Madison Square Garden.

New York has been steadfast in its approach to building a contender. That means avoiding overpaying players, even when the top stars are no longer available.

According to both ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks don’t plan on signing any second-tier free agents—players like Tobias Harris, Jimmy Butler and Khris Middleton—if a proven superstar like Durant or Leonard isn’t committed to joining the team.

The Knicks know all too well how much settling for a second-tier free agent can backfire. After failing to acquire LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh in 2010, New York gave Amare Stoudemire a max deal. Stoudemire started more than 47 games in a season just once for the team, and his Knicks’ career was marred by injuries.

Missing out on Durant and Leonard probably means another year of losing with players signed to one-year contracts. The Knicks will likely build around Duke’s R.J. Barrett, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson.

Maintaining financial flexibility and developing their young players will be New York’s No.1 priority if they swing and miss on the top free agents. The Knicks will look ahead to 2020, though the free-agent class won’t be nearly as star-studded.

It’s almost certain that New York won’t be a contender in the 2019-2020 season, no matter what happens, considering Durant is expected to miss a year because of his ruptured Achilles.