KEVIN OR HELL!
With Kyrie verbally committing to Celtics, it’s Durant or bust for Knicks
First things first: nothing is given in the NBA until the contract is signed, especially when, as in the case of Kyrie Irving, nine months remain before free agency.
A lot can go wrong before July.
But the point guard sounded pretty certain about his future in Boston, which is not good for the Knicks.
“I thought it was a perfect time to let everyone know I have every intention to sign back and now I don’t have to answer any questions like, ‘What are you looking for? It was time,” Irving told reporters Friday morning. “I’m glad I can move past it and be with my teammates and we can move forward.”
It’s important to note that this was a calculated and coordinated announcement from Irving, done in conjunction with media handlers. Irving wanted to avoid a distraction and felt he could cut off the questions before they started.
Again, we’ll see. Isaiah Thomas thought he was the future of the Celtics until he wasn’t. Kevin Durant loved OKC until he didn’t. Irving said publicly that he’d never leave Cleveland and then he demanded a trade.
In this instance, Irving has already changed his tune in just four months, going from noncommittal about his free agency to all-in for the Celtics. He said that returning to training camp in Boston – where he enrolled in Harvard Business School – and to the court – where he’s flashing his All-Star moves after recovering from knee surgery – made the difference.
“I just needed some time. Kind of be back in Boston,” Irving said. “And feel great about different things I wanted to explore in my career. But I think the important thing was just being happy and having an environment where I’m being challenged in a physical level as well as mental and I can get better as a basketball player and as a man and grow here. And I do have a dream of putting my No. 11 in the rafters one day if I’m so blessed to do that. I’ll have to work my tail off to do that. But to throw my name in the Boston Celtic history and tradition is something I’m glad I can do.”
Left unsaid by Irving is that he can sign a five-year, $180 million contract with the Celtics, and just a four-year, $139 million deal with any other team. He should also consider that the Celtics are the top team in the Eastern Conference while his hometown squad, the Knicks, are riding a four-season streak of at least 50 defeats.
So let’s assume Irving is off the market for the summer of 2019. Where does that leave the Knicks, who were targeting the 26-year-old with their cap space? Kevin Durant should always be the No. 1 target as long as he’s available. He has business in New York and his agent, Rich Kleiman, is a big Knicks fan who once wrote on Twitter, “Imma run the Knicks one day.”
Kleiman can have that type of power if he steers Durant to New York, which, believe it or not, is not as impossible as it would seem.
But if Durant rejects the Knicks, the situation gets murky and, very possibly, ugly. The once robust free-agent class of 2019 is suddenly slender. Kawhi Leonard is said to prefer the Clippers if he flees Toronto. Klay Thompson likely isn’t leaving Golden State. Kevin Love already signed an extension in Cleveland. Jimmy Butler is probably headed to a place where he’d sign an extension, whether it’s the Clippers or Heat. If all that remains is the second-tier free agents – i.e. Kemba Walker, Khris Middleton or Tobias Harris – the Knicks would be better punting their cap space to 2020. Giving a max deal to 29-year-old Walker is a mistake.
And then what will be the message from the Knicks? Another rebuild? Another year of waiting and developing? Remember it wasn’t the media or fans pumping up the idea of the Knicks getting a superstar in New York. It was Knicks team president Steve Mills – who said they were punting 2018 free agency to “to make room for a max guy (in 2019)” – and coach David Fizdale – who said, “I really feel like we’ll have the bricks in place to make some big moves.”
Their unwillingness to engage in trade talks for neither Leonard nor Butler was built around the idea that they will sign a star in free agency AND keep their assets. It was the right move, but not without potential pitfalls like striking out in the summer of 2019.
With Kyrie making a commitment to Boston, it looks like the Knicks have one fewer star to chase. Free agency in New York is shaping up as Durant or bust.
MUDIAY STUCK IN MUD
Once again, Emmanuel Mudiay got his chance before Frank Ntilikina.
The struggling Mudiay moved into the starting lineup for Friday’s preseason game against the Pelicans, replacing Trey Burke at point guard because coach David Fizdale wanted to give Mudiay a jolt. It wasn’t very successful, however, with Mudiay scoring two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes of Friday’s 106-102 victory over the Pelicans.
“I want to see if the change in the lineup helps him out, get him off to a quick start. Playing with different guys on the court. See how it goes,” Fizdale said.
Ntilikina, meanwhile, remained a reserve largely playing in the off guard position. The 2017 eighth overall pick was also a non factor with two points on 1-of-5 shooting in 17 minutes.
Fizdale insisted he still views Ntilikina as a lead guard, but the coach’s preseason lineups have suggested otherwise. Aside from some short cameos, Ntilikina has always shared the court with either Mudiay or Burke.
Fizdale added that he may still start Ntilikina in the preseason finale next Friday.