Kevin Durant signing with the New York Knicks in 2016 free agency is a pipe dream.
Russell Westbrook joining New York as a free agent in 2017? Now that’s possible. Supposedly.
Here’s Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
The Knicks have a real chance to sell Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in 2017 – New York and Porzingis have his attention, yes – and Jackson ought to start constructing an elite coaching staff to begin that process with Westbrook and with free agents beyond him.
Landing Westbrook would instantly give the Knicks their best point guard since, well, Walt Clyde Frazier, maybe ever. But the competition for his services will be fierce. The point guard market is deep in 2017, but Stephen Curry isn’t leaving Golden State, so attention will shift to Chris Paul and Westbrook, the latter of whom is younger and, in turn, the more attractive target.
The Knicks are also married to the triangle offense. It’s part of why Derek Fisher was canned. And Westbrook isn’t a triangle point guard. He’s a ball-dominant playmaker who thrives out of pick-and-rolls and when given the opportunity, the unconditional green light, to attack.
Would the Knicks be willing to deviate from their triangle culture, taking a page out of Golden State’s and San Antonio’s books, using only elements of the system, so that they can get in the running for players like Westbrook?
The answer to that, no doubt, will lie in who they hire to be the next head coach.
