As the NBA playoffs roll on, another story hit the internet late last week about Kevin Durant, this time from ESPN's Ian Begley. It was another report that Durant, who is expected to opt out of his deal with the Warriors this summer, is likely bound for the Knicks, according to Durant's current and former teammates.
Even the most pessimistic Knicks followers (such as myself), at least in their subconscious, must be starting to believe "Durant to the Knicks" is a thing that might actually happen and not something they will look at with some level of posttraumatic stress in a few years. There is so much smoke, with very few possibilities other than an actual fire that might be causing it.
With hope springing eternal, Knicks fans should be salivating at the player who could be joining their team over the summer. The Warriors might not be "his team" in the traditional sense, but it is impossible to argue he isn't the best player on the best team in the land.
Durant's playoff per-game averages are staggering:• 34.3 points• 20.9 field goal attempts • 52.7% on field goals• 40.7% on 3-pointers• 90.5% on free throws• 10.5 free-throw attemptsSome of his advanced numbers are just as impressive:• 67.2% true shooting• 59.3 effective field goal percentage• 20.7 assist percentage• 33 usage percentage• 13.3 net rating when on the court• -10.2 net rating when off the court
Durant's net rating differential in the playoffs is the second largest on the team after Swiss-army-knife defender Draymond Green. Durant has shot under 50% from the field in just two of his eight playoff games this postseason. He has taken eight or more free throws in all but two playoff games and reached 12 or more in half of the team's eight postseason contests.
He is probably the best scorer in the entire NBA. The only other volume scorers with a higher true shooting percentage than Durant's 67.2 during the regular season were Kawhi Leonard and teammate Stephen Curry. A player who can score efficiently from all three levels and is willing to pass when a teammate is open (5.9 assists per game, 26.2 AST% in the regular season) can be the centerpiece of an effective offense and make everyone on the court around him better.
Durant's defense also isn't a liability like it is for some of the other top scorers in the game. His length should allow his offensive game to evolve and age gracefully as he loses some of his athleticism. The jump shot will never go away, and he can navigate himself closer to the basket, where he still shoots better from midrange (55.1%) than any other volume scorer in the NBA.
There are some Knicks fans concerned about signing Durant to a max contract as he enters his age-31 season, which would put him under contract until the age of 34 at $40 million-plus per season. He should age far better than Carmelo Anthony did with his more slender body type, superior length and better innate defensive ability.
There's no reason to think that Durant won't be able to maintain the ability to be one of the most dominant first offensive options in the entire NBA through at least the first three seasons of his contract. It gives the Knicks a window to add another star player around him, add other veterans with salary exceptions and use their young players as either pieces around him or as assets (along with future draft picks) in trades to build a championship contender.
Durant is a great player, and Knicks fans should enjoy watching the playoffs knowing that there seems to be more than a glimmer of hope that he could be leading their franchise next season. He is a true superstar and a special player who could change everything for the Knicks at the strike of a pen.
You can follow John on Twitter at @Schmeelk for everything Knicks, Giants and the world of sports You can also check out his Knicks podcast, "The Bank Shot," available on RADIO.COM, iTunes and other places where you find podcasts.
