Rich Kleiman is an NBA agent with only one client, but he’ll get plenty of attention this summer, especially in New York, writes Stefan Bondy of The Daily News. If Kleiman, a native New Yorker, can deliver Kevin Durant to the Knicks, he might be in line for a front office job as well, as a commission.
Kleiman and Durant go into detail about their relationship in newly released episodes of the ESPN series, “The Boardroom.” Durant says he was seeking guidance with his career in 2007 when he met Kleiman at a concert. They became friends, but their business partnership didn’t happen until 2013, making Kleiman his third agent in five NBA seasons. Durant also explains that he left the Thunder for the Warriors in 2016 because he wanted “another challenge,” possibly offering hope to the Knicks that he might view this offseason the same way.
“For us, it was stepping into a new chapter,” Durant said. “Let’s see how much we can conquer this totally, all the way around, not just on the basketball court, but as much as we can do in the community, as much as we can do for our businesses as well and obviously me as a basketball player.”
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks are two losses away from the worst season in franchise history, bringing back bad memories for Lance Thomas, who was part of the team that set that record in 2015, Bondy adds in a separate story. “Nobody in any competitive setting likes to lose,” Thomas said. “But it takes a tough-minded individual to keep focus and to make sure things are done the right way to change things around. Myself, I’ve just been constantly working and pushing the guys to have the mindset I have.”
- Coach David Fizdale is dropping hints that Emmanuel Mudiay has played his last game for the Knicks, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Fizdale kept Mudiay on the bench Friday with a sore shoulder and said afterward that he didn’t want to take the chance of Mudiay aggravating the injury with free agency upcoming. “I think about these guys’ careers from the standpoint of, we’re not going to the playoffs, this kid has now established himself and put himself in position to have an offseason where multiple teams are going to want to talk to him,’’ Fizdale said. “I don’t want to risk that after that he’s done so much to get to where he is.” The Knicks have other plans with more than $70MM in cap space, and Dennis Smith Jr. appears to be the point guard of the future unless Kyrie Irving comes to New York.
- The letter the Knicks sent to season ticket holders touting the team’s free agent prospects was a mixture of optimism and caution, Steve Popper of Newsday.
How is NY not being hit with tampering penalties?
Because no one from the organization has directly mentioned any names or spoken to either of the mentioned players. All the rumors, etc. are being generated by the media based on speculation.
Knick fans are not going to be happy when Durant doesn’t go there in the off season. The NBA is pushing hard for him to go there to get the knicks back on top but Durant wants to win not play LeBron jr.
If they get the top pick, or even one of the top three, I think they’ll do just fine on the FA front.
Most Knicks fans realize that until Dolan sells the team, they’ll be terrible and nothing will work. I know I don’t expect them to get Durant or Irving.
What do you think Dolan does that is so bad? He seems pretty hands off to me and in the past he spent big money on payroll (e.g. the Jalen Rose trade).
understand that durant, irving, butler, walker or whichever FA and the rumors that follow them to ny is just hype and media garnishing people to read their articles so its revenue for the company they work for…simply put these FA are not afraid of going to NY because of their losing records or lack of consistency its because of the toxic culture and an owner who is quite frankly the worst in all of sports! A FA wants to see vision and goals not listen to nightmare stories and bullshit backed up by puppets as GMs and AGM’s talking the talk! then throw in a coach who should be more of a WWE manager with his golden tongue and no substance behibd it! the knicks get no one of worth and still will be the laughing stock of the NBA despite the league trying to make them relevant again. always remember they are worth billions without them winning!
durant < kobe < jordan
no chance KD signs w/a dumpster fire org