First Derrick Rose, then Kevin Durant?
That’s the plan, apparently.
After trading for Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls, the New York Knicks have let it be known to their new point guard that free agent Kevin Durant is on their radar this summer, according to the New York Daily News‘s Frank Isola:
But Phil Jackson believes that by acquiring the former MVP point guard for one starter, a rookie and a veteran with an expiring contract the Knicks enhanced their bid to land the biggest free agent on the market, Kevin Durant.
According to a source, Jackson told Rose of his plan to pursue Durant starting on July 1st. That in of itself may be the worst-kept secret in the NBA, along with the notion that Golden State, San Antonio, Miami and both Los Angeles clubs are also planning to recruit Durant.
The difference now, however, is that the Knicks are not only selling Durant on Madison Square Garden and Madison Avenue, but also a roster that features a triangle we can all understand; Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and Rose, who turns 28 in October.
Maybe this roster is enticing to Durant in 2010, but not right now. Carmelo Anthony is a star, but Kristaps Porzingis isn’t quite there yet, and Rose’s superstar days are behind him.
The Knicks are really selling Durant on future flexibility, plus Melo and Porzingis. Rose is an interesting one-year placeholder, but his contract comes off the books next summer, at which point the Knicks could theoretically carve out enough cap space for another high-end stud, such as Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Kyle Lowry, Blake Griffin, etc.
This, to be sure, is a pipe dream—as is the Knicks’ pursuit of Durant. They are no more appealing than they were before trading for Rose, given that he cost them Robin Lopez.
