The New York Knicks' hopes were dashed again on Sunday, in especially depressing fashion. After clearing enough salary in the Kristaps Porzingis trade to sign two max-level free agents this summer, the Knicks watched their top two targets, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, agree to team up for the cross-town Brooklyn Nets mere moments into free agency.

As team president Steve Mills tells it, though, frustrated New York fans across the globe should remain optimistic about their favorite team's future.

“While we understand that some Knicks fans could be disappointed with tonight's news, we continue to be upbeat and confident in our plans to rebuild the Knicks to compete for championships in the future, through both the draft and targeted free agents,” he said in statement, per Marc Stein of The New York Times.

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Losing out on Durant and Irving to the Nets shouldn't ring alarm bells for Knicks fans all by itself. Brooklyn is one of the most well-run organizations in the league, with an impressive base of existing young talent and growing cache. Given recent history, it makes sense superstars would prefer to play for the Nets rather than New York City's iconic NBA franchise.

Of course, it also makes sense that Durant wouldn't give the Knicks more than a passing glance considering they reportedly hedged on whether or not to offer him a four-year contract worth the full maximum, concerned about his ability to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The injury is indeed a concern. As Brooklyn made abundantly clear by giving Durant the most lucrative possible contract without even meeting with him, though, it's hardly the type that should prevent a team from paying the two-time Finals MVP what the rest of the NBA believes he's worth.