NBA Rumors: Durant, Irving Knicks Move 95%, Forward Could Still Derail Deal

Kevin Durant has the potential to change the landscape of the NBA with his decision when he enters free agency later in July. The Golden State Warriors small forward will be the most sought after player and he can make any team he joins possible contenders after almost unanimously claiming the title of best basketball player on the planet at the moment.

The forward will become a free agent when he opts out of his contract – but the question remains if he will re-sign with the Warriors or look for pastures new. Most NBA insiders are claiming that Durant will join the New York Knicks in the summer as they have a league high $74 million in max salary cap space allowing them to sign two top free agents.

Durant has stayed away from adding to the speculation and is focused on helping his current employers complete the three-peat by winning their third straight NBA title. But ESPN’s Stephen A Smith claims that it is almost 95 percent certain that the two-time NBA Finals MVP will head to the Madison Square Garden when he enters free agency on July 1.

Moreover, the Warriors forward will not be alone, he is expected to team up with Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, who will also be a free agent. The duo is close friends off the court and is said to want to team up in New York and help them get back to winning ways.

However, Smith claims that the only thing that can jeopardize the deal is if Durant changes his mind in the last minute since nothing is signed at the moment. If the Warriors forward decides against moving to New York, it is almost certain that Irving will also do the same.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports that the Warriors are now getting the feeling that Durant will give staying with the franchise a second thought as they move into a new arena. He could also see how LeBron James’ decision to move to the Los Angeles Lakers has not panned out.

“There's a recent sense in Warriors circles that maybe he'll think twice about joining them on this trek across the Bay Bridge, that this recent stretch of domination and fan appreciation might be the kind of thing that convinces him to – cue LeBron James' personal motto that hasn't exactly panned out in Laker Land – RWTW (Roll With The Winners),” Amick wrote.

Also, Stephen Curry seems to have launched a charm offensive toward Durant in the aftermath of his right calf strain that saw him miss part of Game 5 and the entire Game 6 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals. Curry was full of praise for Durant for carrying the team until his injury and claiming that the team had to stand up and show themselves capable of having Durant’s back when he recovers from the injury.