The New York Knicks have already been highly criticized for their handling of free agency. The Knicks entered the summer as a favorite to land at least one max-level free agent. Whether that was Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard , Kemba Walker or Jimmy Butler, it did seem as though the Knicks would sign at least one of those guys to a max contract.

And yet, Irving and Durant spurned New York for the Brooklyn Nets, while the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat were aggressive in landing Walker and Butler, respectively. With the free agent pool dwindling and the Knicks realizing that they had limited opportunities to land an impact player, they panicked.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that the Knicks were supposed to meet with Leonard on Wednesday after he sat down with both the Clippers and Lakers, but the plan was effectively scrapped once Durant signed with the Nets:

The Knicks had spent almost all of their $70 million cap space in the first 20 hours of free agency, knowing if they waited until the Leonard meeting Wednesday, the players they did sign could be off the market. It was too big a risk, knowing they likely would finish fourth behind the Raptors, Lakers and Clippers.

Rumors had also circulated that the Knicks were not willing to offer Durant a max contract based on his recent Achilles injury, but NBA Insider Chris Broussard said that he believes that information may have come either from Knicks president James Dolan or even Durant's own camp.

Leonard may in fact be heading back to the Raptors. Regardless, Knicks fans will likely feel the sting of an underwhelming free agency for some time to come.