The New York Knicks are hoping this will be the summer they can start turning things around for their tormented franchise, but they are not going to panic and recklessly spend money just to make a big splash.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks are only willing to offer a max contract to Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving. They might consider offering that kind of money to Kemba Walker, but only if Durant agrees to sign first and wants to play with the point guard. If the Knicks miss out on Durant, Leonard and Irving, Berman says president Steve Mills is comfortable signing a few “savvy veterans” to one-year deals and saving his salary cap space for next summer.
Knicks fans would probably consider that a disaster of an offseason, but it makes some sense. Anthony Davis is still scheduled to become a free agent a year from now, and he reportedly wants to sign long-term with either the Los Angeles Lakers or Knicks. If things don’t go well in LA this year, it would not be out of the question that he will want to leave.
Of course, Berman’s reported offseason plan means the Knicks are not willing to offer max money to Klay Thompson or Jimmy Butler. Neither of those players are in the same class as a Durant and Leonard, so teams that are willing to sign them to max deals probably want them as their second-biggest or third-biggest star.
All indications are that the Knicks are willing to sign Durant to a max contract even though his torn Achilles is expected to keep him out for all of next season. But if you believe what Andre Iguodala said this week, Knicks fans may have to wait at least another year for their franchise to find its next savior.
