As the possibility of Kevin Durant making his way to the crosstown rival Nets in free agency just became a little bit more realistic with this afternoon’s trade between Brooklyn and Atlanta, Steve Popper of Newsday writes that Kawhi Leonard is another player the Knicks are highly motivated to sit down with when free agency starts on June 30 at 6pm.
The Knicks are certainly still interested in Durant also, but there is apparently a contingent in the Knicks’ front office that is perhaps more enamored with Leonard due to his two-way ability and the fact that he would bring little drama with him both on and off the court. A source tells Popper that the Knicks are expected to “push hard” for Leonard.
Leonard spoke about New York when he was there in February, and he was asked what he thought about the city, as well as how he felt about Knicks’ fans still coming out to games and showing their support when the team has been mired in losing for so long.
“Yeah, they still come out and support the team even with a losing record,” Leonard said. “That’s what you want I guess from an organization if you’re playing for them.”
But other than that observation, what would give Leonard reason to spurn the Raptors or Clippers, perhaps the two front-runners for his continued services moving forward, for the Knicks? Popper agrees it would be a difficult sell, but Leonard did spend time near his uncle in South Orange, NJ when he was rehabbing during his final season with the Spurs, and he’s said to be close with his uncle.
Will that be enough to give the Knicks a foot in the door in the Kawhi sweepstakes? We shall see this summer.
Mans about the win the finals of course the Knicks want him
Not sure why anyone would want to go to the Knicks over a finals team
I’ve never understood that either, be it KD, Kyrie, Kawai, or anyone else. Who would want to play for a trash organization in a trash city? Same goes for the Lakers.
Because nothing tops winning in NY.
But lots of things top losing in NY, which is the outcome that is actually going to happen.
Nobody wins in NY except the Yankees, so how would you know? NY is a vastly overrated city.
It takes a certain personality to deal with those harsh fans and press. KD is in the most loving market there is on a team giving him a chance to play hero in the finals after missing a month. Too choose them and then to leave in this way is so ugly for him and will only get uglier when he doesn’t exceed expectations in a harsh market. Maybe talk to melo about how 8th place in NY feels
I would say that the NBA is the league that least values the amenities of an NBA city. Proof in the pudding considering the Knicks, Nets, Heat recently, Bulls and DC have struggled to attract major FA of late. Players may love to live in some of those cities like Miami and Los Angeles during the off-season but that’s about it.
However, anyone bold enough to come to NY could be embarking on an amazing story if they can be the catalyst to returning the Knicks into a true title contender. It may now be during their 1st season but if they can quickly build around them then watch out. If they win in NY they can achieve “Jeterish” status in NY. Not to mentions millions more in endorsement and celebrity cache. You win in NY and it just hits different. S/o to Uncle Murda..
A ring in Metropolis is not like a ring in smalville.
…and way better than a ring in Otisburg.
“Knicks interested in Kwai”,,,,,no dog do,,,,who wouldn’t be!
‘Men interested in Scarlett Johansson’
Nice
Well said sir!
No duh
Everybody’s interested in Leonard!
The Stooges doing work. Almost all NBA players have some connection to the NYC or the metro area, but KL has fewer than most stars. KD and KI each made sense separately for different reasons, and a lot of sense collectively – still it wasn’t likely. KL-? A meeting-? Maybe, if he’s going to any (alone that’s less than 50%). Coming here-? Not happening.
I’m shocked
They want Kawhi over Durant because he brings little drama? We all know how the Knicks don’t like drama.
The Knicks are going to lose out on everyone… they’re best off bringing in Vucevic and maybe D Russell, and then drafting Barrett at No 3… to go along with Knox, DSJ as the core… not a bad core if Barrett becomes a star.
No A-list vet is gonna go to NY
KD and Kyrie to Nets. Kawhi to Clips or Raps. Jimmy stays in Philly. Knicks best bets are Tobias Harris and Kemba Walker.
Everyone interested in Kawhi Leonard
The knicks want Kawhi Leonard? Wow… that’s straight out of left field… shocking. I wonder if anyone else realizes how good this kid is.
sign D. Russell if Nets rescind, sign Julius Randle when he opts out. draft Barrett and pair with Knox, Robinson, Kornet, Dotson, Trier, Kadeem Allen, Ellison/Vonleh. trade DSJ
This also just in, The Knicks are reportedly tired of losing and being the laughingstock of the NBA.
Their path to relevance remains the same now as it was ten years ago: find a way to strand Dolan on a deserted island. Full stop.
I would pay to sit in the meeting with Dolan and Leonard.
It would go like this:
-Dolan: “You wanna play for the Knicks?”
-Kawhi: “Huehuahuehuahuahueha”
Insert Kawhi’s laugh…
The gentleman who called nyc trash must live in some second rate city because everyone knows that if you win in the BIG APPLE you would be a god
NYC is trash. So full of itself and vastly overrated. Also, how would you know about what winning in NYC would be like, considering NY has never won anything except the Yankees? Yeah maybe you’d be a god by bringing a chip to overrated NY, but you’d be a god by bringing a chip anywhere first of all, and secondly, the Knicks are TRASH and high level FAs know that adding one or 2 pieces won’t bring a championship. Build it from the ground up like the Raptors did, instead of sucking monkey bum for years on end then hoping every major FA would.come to NY because duuuuude “you’d be a god if you won in NYC”. That’s a big, big IF
The Knick’s would be interested in me if I could play (62 Years old). I lost my game years ago. Point being every week someone is signing with the Knick’s.
And why would Kawhi be interested in the Knicks?? His personality & demeanor doesn’t match New York’s in the first place. Secondly, Kawhi only plays for winning teams and the Knicks last winning season was Melo’s last really good season. Can’t even remember when that was. They’ve been on a nosedive since then. So, NO, Kawhi ain’t going to NY no matter how much they offer him.
Completely off topic. What’s the trade value for Mitch Robinson? I think he’s amazing.