NBA Rumors: Knicks Signing Kevin Durant A Big Risk To Take, Sources Say

Kevin Durant Golden State Warriors — Kevin Durant poses with his jersey during the press conference where he was introduced as a member of the Golden State Warriors after they signed him to a two-year contract on July 7, 2016 in Oakland, California. He has one of the highest net worths of any NBA player. Getty Images

League sources view a different outcome in Kevin Durant signing with the New York Knicks now that the NBA superstar is likely to be out for a long time.

Durant’s sudden game 5 achilles injury has really impacted the NBA free agency atmosphere. The 2018 Finals MVP has been the one of the top free agent prospects the Knicks have been reportedly pursuing aside from Anthony Davis. And now that KD is highly expected to be out for quite some time, sources claim that the Knicks are about to put their team at risk should they still push hard to sign the NBA superstar.

Looking at the most realistic possibilities, the Knicks can only maximize three years out of a four-year $160 million Durant contract. This is a good prediction by sources as KD’s achilles injury will likely to put the Warriors star out of the court for a full season.

Sources also predict that Durant playing for the Knicks will only be a good decision if the team will al so be able to add another All-Star player to ride along with him. Relatively, the All-Star players being linked to Knicks and KD are Davis and Irving could work but with the looks of what is ahead of the two, the Knicks have a slim chance of landing either of them.

Reports claim that the current assets of New York are not appealing enough for Pelicans to trade Davis. Irving on the other hand, is still progressing in closing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. However, the Knicks still has a chance to get this Durant and another All-Star team-up work, and that is if 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard decides to switch to New York, according to New York Daily News.

While many believe that signing Durant could still work for the Knicks, some sources insist that regardless of how beautiful the deal is, it will be a big risk to go for a player that is strongly believed to never be able to get back in his best form even after recovering from injury.

According to New York Post, even if the Knicks get Durant, he probably will be a diminished, riskier asset after a season-long lay-off.

The Warriors are still hoping to make Durant stay, who according to Warriors general manager Bob Myers, has been everything to them, CBS Sports reported.

"I don't know," Myers replied when asked about the possibilities of Durant staying with Warriors.

"What more could we ask for from him? He's been everything to us. The guy has been everything we could have ever dreamed. Been an awesome member of this organization. There's so much stuff he does in the community that probably doesn't get as many headlines. The things he's done in D.C., his foundation. How he kind of lives his life. Like I said, we're lucky to have been around him. Hopefully, we can keep doing that,” Myers added.