Knicks reportedly targeting Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving in free agency

The New York Knicks either know exactly what they are doing by trading Kristaps Porzingis, or they’re complete idiots.

The Knicks sent Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a 6-player trade on Thursday. Porzingis looked like the future of the team, but the 7-foot-3 big man is coming off a torn ACL and has been out all season.

The trade takes away their best player, but it gives the Knicks enough cap space to sign two players to max deals over the summer. What they do with the space will determine the future of the franchise. There is plenty of speculation and reports saying they are targeting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency.

Dennis Smith Jr. or no Dennis Smith Jr., the Knicks grand plan is to sign Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. https://t.co/78kc4YJJTv

— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) January 31, 2019

If Irving stays in Boston as the Celtics think he will do, maybe they think they will be able to land a player like Kemba Walker instead.

The ultimate would be signing Durant, another top player, and winning the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and selecting Zion Williamson. That would make the Knicks an instant factor in the East. Or they could whiff in free agency and just end up blowing their cap space on guys like Joakim Noah and Tim Hardaway Jr. again.