spree8 wrote:thebuzzardman wrote:BowlRips wrote:Check out the latest edition of the Lowe Post Podcast featuring Zach Lowe, Howard Beck and Rachel Nichols.
At 27min mark, they bring up Durant and Rachel Nichols immediately brings up the Knicks as a viable option.
Seems to be in the tone of "informed speculation"
But reasons she cites are
- one upping Lebron on his move to LA
- KD's manager, Rich Kleiman, ties to the Knicks
- Durant not being satisfied in Golden State
- Warriors brass unsure if Durant wants to remain there and were even concerned he would leave this offseason
- Opportunity for KD to fix his image
- Return of the Mecca
- Scott Perry's ties to Durant when he was working for Sonics when KD was drafted there
She said if KD takes meetings then he will def meet the Knicks.
She put odds that KD as more likely that not that this could happen.
Lowe and Beck both agreed that you can't dismiss the idea it could happen
Just interesting stuff
I'll use this as another location to posit my KD to the Knicks theory. Or, more accurately, the reasons why KD might consider it.
Reasons to stay with the GSW
Rings, rings and more rings.
KD has two. Pencil him in for 3 next year. That ties him with LeBron, the player he'll be compared to when their careers are over. Not a direct comparison, but they'll sort of come up in the same breath, not unlike Magic/Bird
KD could then OPT IN, get a 4th and one up LeBron that way. IF one upping LeBron is important to him
KD could just re-sign, and pick up somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,6 rings and be remembered as, if not an original member, then an integral member of one of the iconic teams in NBA history. This is obviously the strongest reason to stay
Reasons KD might leave
Lebron "chased rings" right? Well, if LeBron was ONLY about rings, he would have stayed in Miami another few years and won another one or two. Lebron ensured he won a wing, stayed for another, then decided, in a VERY CALCULATED MOVE, to go back to Cleveland. That was very media savvy to change how he was currently viewed, but also how he'd be viewed when his career is over. To go back to the "home team" in a feel good story, deliver a championship, be a hero, no longer be a villain. And did he stay after? Nope. He went to LA to be on a "good" team, but perhaps not a championship team, but headed to a major media market and is basically positioning himself for post career life.
KD also left his "home team" and deliberately joined a team that was already a champion without him, so he could "fill in his resume, his career", with a championship. I believe both players, or Lebron, then KD, realized the kind of leverage and power they have, and used it to ensure they wouldn't go "ringless". Now, once one ring, or two, or three is out of the way, the question is what the next motivation. I think KD is VERY cognizant of the fact he's viewed a villain. Not quite A-Rod, but his brand went from "KD's a good guy" to "KD is kind of d*ck" and also "KD is a coattail rider". IF KD is satisfied having tied LeBron with 3 rings (and I think that's important), there is a very real chance he signs with the Knicks so he can be seen as "taking on the challenge of winning one as the lead guy" and also it sort of erases a lot of "KD is a front running ahole" from his brand. And that's just for evening signing on for a few years. If he wins a championship with the Knicks, then it's "he's the guy who ended the 46 year drought, he's a hero etc etc". And that would be a big deal for the post playing days KD legacy. And I really think LeBron and KD are wired to think this way.
It's a big if. Leaving a team that will be considered one of the top 4 in nba history is a big deal. But even LeBron showed his was wired not in an entirely "win as many rings as possible" and nothing else way. I think there is a strong chance KD is similar.
Lebron left Miami cuz he saw Wade n those injuries just getting worse, Bosh wasn’t enough, and Cleveland had a younger Kyrie and Wiggins who everyone and their mother knew was going to be traded for Kevin Love, who was like the best pf in the league at the time. Not because of anything else. Being that it was Cleveland was only a plus...look at him now in LA. Dude was thinking it would be him PG n Kawhi (which easily beats GS). He always tries to take the path of least resistance.
He could have jumped to a different team. It's a theory, but I still think he goes to Cleveland because he knows if he wins there, it totally transforms the narrative. I think he could have won another in Miami. And of course he doesn't go to Cleveland if they suck or are "ok", he's going when they are on the upswing and with a plan to contend - to force the GM to make moves. All I'm pointing out is it's part of a narrative where it's not about every last ring, there's a component to how LeBron is wired where he's very into managing his persona, and going back to Cleveland to undo some of his bad reputation/be the hero is something he does, and IF Durant is sort of wired the same way, then under that context there's a reason to see why he'd consider the Knicks, IF Durant feels they are already decent\on the cusp of being good, without him. There's also an assumption he's going to be ok with a 3rd ring only, instead of the opportunity to have 4-6 and be an integral member of an all time team. Which is a huge draw. But something in the way that LeBron and also Durant see themselves, the league, and the their place in the media opens the door to the possibility.
It's really just thinking out loud on the "why" of why he would consider the Knicks. If I'm thinking on the how or the likelihood, really - it's that he stays to move up pretty high on the all times rings list.
