Durant silent since Porzingis trade
Kevin Durant finally spoke Wednesday night, and needless to say, he wasn’t happy with the media and the Knicks freeagency talk surrounding him.
“I have nothing to do with the Knicks,” Durant said after scoring 23 points in the Warriors’ 141-102 blowout win over the visiting Spurs Wednesday night. “I don’t know who traded [Kristaps] Porzingis. It got nothing to do with me. I’m trying to play basketball. Y’all come here everyday asking me about free agency, ask my teammates, my coaches, rile up the fans about it. Let us play basketball. That’s all I’m saying.”
Durant also said it’s not his job to talk about his free-agency situation.
“It’s the conversation you all [the media] have. I don’t think about that type of stuff. It’s your job. It’s unecessary.”
The Warriors star hadn’t spoken to the media since the Knicks traded Porzingis to the Mavericks last week, freeing up enough cap space to sign two free agents to max contracts this summer.
Durant did not talk to the media at Golden State’s shootaround Wednesday prior to the game. According to The Athletic, Warriors PR officials attempted to get Durant to answer questions from the media during practice Tuesday, but he refused.
The last time Durant did something like this was in November, when he and Draymond Green had a testy exchange on the bench that led to Green’s one-game suspension.
Durant is said to be high on the Knicks’ wish list, should he leave the Warriors and enter free agency. Recent reports indicate the idea is not farfetched. The Knicks would be able to pair him with another superstar — potentially Kyrie Irving — and a top draft pick, maybe Duke stud Zion Williamson.
The Post’s Marc Berman has reported that, according to Dallas sources, the Knicks believe they have a strong chance at landing Durant. An NBA executive also told Bleacher Report last week that the Knicks’ trading Porzingis “means they’re pretty sure they’re getting [Durant].”